No Laptop Ban On Flights From Europe

Well, at least for now. After several weeks of careful deliberation, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided not to impose a proposed ban laptop devices and other personal electronic devices on flights from the European continent to America. US officials though maintain that they will be looking to take any and all measures needed in order to ensure the safety of any commercial airplane entering the US.

It appears that European officials and airline companies have managed to stall discussions on the proposed laptop ban on flights from Europe that was brought up earlier this month. If imposed, the ban would have had severe repercussions for the European airline industry. It is projecting that up to 65 million passengers would have been significantly inconvenienced. As indicated in a report recently published by Politico, its sources in Europe are convinced that there are no further negotiations for now. 

The DHS, however, seems adamant that it will renew discussions on the subject on a future occasion. Before this proposed laptop ban on European flights, the agency had previously implemented an earlier ban on carry on electronic devices aboard flights from ten Muslim majority countries. 

According to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, the ban was waived in order to pursue more in-depth technical talks and additionally, initiate more efforts to find a solution that would benefit the US and the European side. Kelly further noted that both sides are seeing eye to eye on the need to improve standards concerning aviation security, not only in the US and in Europe, but worldwide.

Banning laptop devices from the cabin of commercial airplanes is sort of tricky. This is because these devices use lithium batteries, and if those are stored in the cargo hold of the airplane, they could pose a risk to the overall safety of the whole aircraft, especially if they ignite (although these cases happen very rarely). What is worse is that no member of the flight crew will be present to deal with overheating batteries if and when they happen.

On the side of the US authorities, they feel that the laptop ban is warranted after having gained intelligence reports that terrorists are getting better at hiding explosive elements inside consumer electronic devices, including laptop computers. But as mentioned earlier, having a ban of this scope would equal a huge inconvenience, not to mention all sorts of logistical nightmares, not only for passengers, but also for airline companies and airports.