The Australian is reporting that the government of Australia is looking “very closely” at introducing a ban on laptops and other large devices.
The report comes as U.S. and European Union (EU) officials prepare to meet to discuss a potential expansion of the laptop ban.
ABC News reports that U.S. and EU officials are scheduled to meet in Brussels Wednesday to discuss the reported possibility of expanding the in-flight ban on laptops and other large electronic devices to flights from Europe.
European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas told ABC News that the talks are “to jointly assess any new threats and work toward a common approach to address them.”
“We are looking at it very closely, taking into account all the information and advice we are receiving internationally and working very closely with our partners,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told The Australian. “In due course, any announcements will be made formally through the Transport Minister.”
The ban currently applies to 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa. Travel agents with clients that might be affected by the ban can keep an eye on the current list of airports and airlines affected here. In March, the U.S. and U.K. banned laptops and other electronic devices in carry-on luggage on flight routes from several Muslim-majority countries. According to ABC News, at the time, the Australian Government said it had no intention of imposing a similar ban, but Turnbull has suggested the issue is still under consideration.
For clients concerned about the safety of their electronic devices while they are traveling as checked baggage, we’ve compiled a list of quick travel insurance tips regarding the new electronics ban to share.
Visit www.australia.com/en-us and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for more updates on this story.