Travel groups worry tougher laptop rules could hurt industry

Airline industry experts are raising concerns as U.S. and European Union officials meet to discuss expanding a ban on laptops, tablets and other large electronic devices in carry-on bags aboard U.S.-bound trans-Atlantic flights.

Some worry an expansion of the ban could lead to a reduction in travel and cause frustrations for fliers.

“The U.S. could become a less desirable place to travel,” Cowen airline analyst Helane Becker wrote in a note to investors.

Andrew Coggins, a Pace University management professor, said putting laptops in checked bags “exposes them to theft and damage,” and inconveniences business travelers who want to use laptops during long flights.

On Tuesday, International Air Transport Association CEO Alexandre de Juniac wrote a letter to U.S. and EU officials expressing “serious concern regarding the negative impact” an expansion would have.

IATA said businesses will cancel trips “rather than risk having laptops checked due to risk to confidential information.”

Airlines will also incur additional costs due to extra baggage handling, delays due to increased baggage screening, liability due to theft or damage and potentially reduced flights, according to IATA.

The group estimated a $1.1 billion impact on passengers per year due to lost productive time, longer travel time and harm to “passenger well being.” It also said increasing the number of lithium battery-powered devices in the cargo hold could affect safety.

An extension of the ban to Europe would affect 390 flights a day, according to IATA.

In his letter, de Juniac urged short-term measures including additional screening at checkpoints to inspect devices.

An expansion of the restriction would increase the number of passengers affected by a ban announced earlier this year.

In March, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a ban on large electronics for passengers on flights to the United States from airports in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The policy means that no laptops, tablets, e-readers, cameras, portable DVD players or other personal electronic devices larger than a cell phone or smart phone are allowed in carry-on baggage for passengers on those flights.

The policy was due to intelligence indicating that terrorist groups are “pursuing innovating methods to undertake their attacks, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items.”

The Airline Passenger Experience Association said if the ban is expanded, affected travelers could use cloud services to access documents and files from their phones on flights with wi-fi access, and can buy a small folding Bluetooth keyboard for their phone, or carry files on a USB drive.