Airport leaders call for alternative to US, UK electronics bans

Airports Council International (ACI) Monday issued some pointed criticism about the recent US and UK bans of large electronic devices in passenger cabins of airliners traveling from separate respective lists of Middle Eastern and North African countries, characterising them as inconsistent and ineffective. Notably, the organisation called for “urgent consideration” for alternative solutions, including additional explosive detection capability at boarding gates and/or “state of the art” technology for cabin baggage screening. The ACI statement comes 5 days after EASA issued a Safety Information Bulletin highlighting experts’ preference that PEDs such as laptop computers remain in carry-on baggage and with the person carrying the device. <br/>