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This file photo taken in Riyadh shows a Saudi woman using a tablet computer to visit a website. — AFP[/caption]
By Fatima Muhammad
JEDDAH — Saudi Arabian Airlines’ US-bound passengers flying from Riyadh and Jeddah airports will not be allowed to carry in their cabin baggage any electronic devices bigger than a cell phone or a smart phone.
The measure follows a new announcement by US Department of Homeland Security that requires passengers coming to the United States from airports in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Morocco and Qatar to place in checked baggage all personal electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, e-readers, cameras, portable DVD players, electronic game units larger than a smart phone, travel printers/scanners.
Senior US officials told reporters that nine airlines from eight countries had been given 96 hours, beginning at 3:00 a.m. (0700 GMT), to ban devices bigger than a cell phone or smart phone from the cabin.
Saudi Arabian Airlines is among nine carriers affected by this decision. All carriers are from majority Muslim countries: Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc.
The new restrictions were prompted by reports that terror groups want to smuggle explosive devices in consumer electronic devices, officials told reporters on a conference call Monday.
Saudi Arabian Airlines said the new measure will be effective starting from March 22.
Abdullah Al-Khamis, spokesman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), said that they have directed the Saudi national carrier to ensure the implementation of the new measure at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The new US aviation measure evoked mixed reaction from Saudis on social media.
Ahmed Husein commented by saying that this is “rigidity.”
Mohammad Habbab said that long hours spent in airplanes were used to finish lots of work. He also expressed concern on the safety of electronic devices placed in checked-in baggage.
Luay Jawa and Ibrahim Yusouf suggested that new security measures should be added like creating a form to write information about the devise in case the devise is stolen or is damaged.
Zainab Qandil, a Saudi women who often visits the US, said that she was not against the decision. — With agencies
