US lifts laptop ban on Royal Jordanian flights

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has permitted passengers travelling on Royal Jordanian airlines to take their laptops and other electronic devices aboard all its direct flights from the Jordanian capital, Amman.

“All travellers from Queen Alia International Airport heading to the US can take their laptops, tablets, cameras and other electronic devices on board flights,” Royal Jordanian President and CEO, Stefan Pichler, said in a statement.

Last March, the US banned laptops and other large electronic devices on direct flights departing from ten airports in eight Middle Eastern countries – Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey – over fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard the aircrafts.

Read: US may expand laptop ban beyond Middle Eastern flights

Pichler stressed that the company has implemented “enhanced security measures” in line with DHS’ requirements before the ban was lifted. He did not provide details about the new measures.

The ban was also lifted last week from several other airlines, including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

Jordan’s flag carrier operates 16 weekly non-stop flights from Amman to the United States, including seven flights to New York, seven to Chicago and two to Detroit.