European and American officials met to discuss Washington’s intention to expand the measure banning laptops on board aircraft, a measure currently applied to flights arriving from several countries in the Middle East and Africa.
The International Air Transport Association, IATA, estimated that this embargo currently affects approximately 350 flights arriving in the US each week, and if it were extended to all 28 EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland, it would affect 390 flights every day or over 2,500 flights per week. This would cost passengers $650 million per year due to lost productivity, $216 million as a result of extended flight durations, and $195 million for renting electronic devices on board aircraft.
IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac stated that he asked European and American officials to consider alternative measures to increase security while avoiding a laptop ban, such as increased use of explosive detection devices, closer visual inspection of devices at checkpoints, and the use of officers specialized in detecting suspicious behavior.
In turn, the European Airports Association, ACI Europe, estimates that 60-90% of passengers using European airports carry large electronic devices with them, and an expansion of the embargo would require increasing security personnel at airports.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the estimated financial impact of expanding the laptop ban?
IATA estimates total costs of over $1 billion annually, including $650 million in lost productivity and $216 million due to extended travel times.
What alternative security measures does IATA propose?
The association suggests using explosive detection devices, rigorous visual inspections, and officers specialized in behavioral detection.
How many flights would be affected by a potential expansion in Europe?
Extending the ban to EU states, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland would affect approximately 390 flights daily, or over 2,500 flights per week.