UK flight ban on laptops to be introduced ‘in days’

A laptop ban affecting airline passengers travelling to the UK from six countries in the Middle East and north Africa is to be introduced “in the coming days”, Downing Street confirmed.

The restriction – which means customers will no longer be able to carry laptops and other large electronic devices as cabin luggage – affects passengers on inbound flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

It will cover devices which are larger than a typical smartphone measuring 16cm by 9.3cm by 1.5cm, which will now have to go in the plane’s hold.

The move was ordered by Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday in the latest of a series of meetings on aviation security.

Affected airlines were informed immediately, but may take a few days to implement the new security measure, said Number 10.

It follows a similar measure announced on Tuesday by the US authorities affecting flights originating in a longer list of eight mainly Muslim countries.

A spokesman for Number 10 said no date had been set for the ban to be introduced, but said it would be soon.