The U.S. government’s ban on laptops and other large electronic devices in the cabins of flights from Saudi Arabia to the United States has been lifted, Saudi Arabian Airlines confirmed today.
From Reuters:
In March, the United States imposed restrictions on passengers carrying laptops and other large electronic gear in cabins on flights from certain airports in the Middle East and North Africa in response to unspecified security threats.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has inspected and cleared flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport from the ban, the state-owned carrier, also known as Saudia, said in statement on its website.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to visit Saudia on Wednesday to confirm that Riyadh airport is complying with new security measures announced last month, TSA spokeswoman Michelle Negron told Reuters in an emailed statement.
A lifting of the ban would be based on visual confirmation by TSA officials that the measures were being implemented correctly, she said.
Earlier this week, the TSA said it had cleared Saudia’s main hub King Abdulaziz International Airport and would inspect Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
Saudia is the only airline flying direct to the United States from Saudi Arabia.