US authorities could be set to extend a ban on larger mobile devices being taken onboard aircraft.
Reports in the US say that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is “likely” to extend this ban to inbound flights from the UK and Europe due to continued security fears.
The current US ban, which applies to laptops, tablets and larger smartphones, is being enforced on US-bound flights from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
This policy was introduced in March and was later followed by a similar ban by UK authorities on inbound flights from six countries: Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
The US government is expected to make a decision on extending the laptop ban within the next few weeks.
"We have not made any decisions on expanding the electronics ban; however, we are continuously assessing security directives based on intelligence and will make changes when necessary to keep travellers safe,” said the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in a statement.