Airlines body says laptop ban affecting Middle East-U.S. traffic

Restrictions on bringing large electronic devices into aircraft cabins on certain routes to the US are affecting traffic between the Middle East and the US, a global airlines' association said Thursday. Overall demand for air travel rose 10.7% in April, but the growth rate for the Middle East airlines was slower than its five-year average, a trend not seen in other regions, the IATA said Thursday. In March, the US announced restrictions on large electronic items, such as laptops, on flights originating from 10 airports, including in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, because of fears that a concealed bomb could be installed in electronic devices taken onto aircraft. That affects carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. IATA said that in March traffic measured in RPK between the Middle East and the United States fell by 2.8% year-on-year, the first drop in at least seven years. "It's too early to be absolutely sure, but we think these numbers are indicative of some impact on travel," IATA chief economist Brian Pearce said Thursday. The US seemed set to expand the restrictions last month to flights from Europe but, after discussions with European partners, it has not yet announced a decision. IATA DG Alexandre de Juniac said that the uncertainty over whether the ban would be extended was not yet having a measurable impact on overall bookings. "In the mid term, if the decision is made, it's another story," he said.<br/>