Turkey sends team to UK over electronics ban

ANKARA: Britain issued a ban last week on laptops and tablet computers in the passenger compartment of flights from five countries from the Middle East and northern Africa as well as Turkey.

Ahmet Arslan told CNN Turk he “felt” Britain would shortly lift the ban “because our meetings suggest this” but said talks with the US would likely be “longer-running.”

“What I expect from the UK especially is for the ban to be lifted as soon as possible,” Arslan said.

The British move came after Washington banned electronic devices larger than mobile phones on direct flights to the US from 10 airports in seven Middle Eastern countries and Turkey, allowing them only in hold luggage.

READ MORE: UK issues laptop, tablet flight ban after US warning

The UK ban affects 14 airlines including British Airways, EasyJet and flag carrier Turkish Airlines, whose profits have already been hit by a slew of terror attacks in 2016.

In a bid to make passengers “more comfortable” after the bans, the airline said passengers could use their laptops until they board.

The devices would then be placed in a special area in the cargo hold of the aircraft and returned to their owners upon arrival at the destination, Turkish Airlines said.