Electronics ban lifted for Emirates, Saudia to follow soon

Early on Wednesday, Emirates Airlines lifted the electronics ban on board of its flights to the United States, Gulf News Reported. 

The news comes "after the airline implemented new security measures to meet the requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security."

In a statement on the matter, an Emirates spokesperson said: “Emirates has been working hard in coordination with various aviation stakeholders and local authorities to implement heightened security measures and protocols that meet the requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security’s new security guidelines for all US bound flights."  

On Sunday, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways also lifted the electronics ban off all flights going to the U.S. 

In an announcement made via Twitter on Monday, Bilal Eksi, the chief executive of Turkish Airlines, revealed that starting July 5th, a similar ban lift would take effect on all the airline's flights to the U.S., reported Reuters. 

Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) is also set to lift the electronics ban on all its flights to the U.S., Arab News reported on Wednesday.  

The airline said they will issue further updates on the matter once it's finalized, but they expect the ban lift will come into effect "on or before July 19."

This comes after a deal was "worked out between the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and US transport security authorities." 

The U.S. electronics ban was applied on the 21st of March, barring people traveling via ten airports in Muslim majority countries from carrying laptops and any other device larger than a mobile phone as carry-on luggage on flights to the U.S. 

A few hours later, the U.S. ban was followed by a similar one in the UK, which affected travelers from several countries including Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.