US Electronics Ban Lifted On Qatar Airways

Mumbai, July 6 (IANS): Qatar Airways on Thursday announced that US has lifted electronic devices ban on all Flights from Doha's Hamad International Airport with immediate effect.

"Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport have met with all the requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security's new security guidelines," an official statement said.

The US in March imposed a ban on carrying of large electronic devices like laptops as cabin baggage on all Qatar Airways flights to the US originating from Doha, hitting thousands of international passengers including Indians.

This comes close on the heels of the lifting of similar bans on Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi, followed by Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul and Emirates flights from Dubai.

As part of the new security protocols implemented in March, the US has banned all electronic devices larger than SmartPhones in cabins on US-bound flights originating from 10 airports in eight countries, citing the threats of hidden bombs.

The affected muslim countries were Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.