The US Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that 180 airlines worldwide that fly directly to US airports have complied with the first phase of enhanced security measures outlined in June. DHS spokesman David Lapan said no airlines are currently subject to in-cabin restrictions on large electronics including laptops. Late Wednesday, the government confirmed it lifted restrictions on Saudi Airlines flights from Riyadh after earlier dropping restrictions on Jeddah flights. Last week, the US government revised its security directive, which also include additional requirements that must be met within 120 days. An airline official said last week it gave airlines more flexibility and additional time to obtain explosive trace detection equipment.<br/>
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Britain has told Turkish authorities it will lift the ban on electronics in aircraft cabins in flights from Turkey, Turkish diplomatic sources said Thursday. The sources said that Alan Duncan, Britain's minister for Europe and Foreign Minister Boris Johnson both called Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to tell him the ban was being lifted. However, there was no immediate confirmation from British officials. "The safety and security of the travelling public is our top priority. We keep our aviation security measures under constant review, but we do not comment on speculation or leaks," a spokesman for Britain's Department for Transport said. Major airlines flying from Turkey to Britain include Turkish Airlines and British Airways.<br/>
The White House said Thursday it had withdrawn or removed from active consideration more than 800 proposed regulations that were never finalised during the Obama administration as it works to shrink the federal government's regulatory footprint. In a report, the Trump administration said it had withdrawn 469 planned actions that had been part of the Obama administration's regulatory agenda published last fall. Officials also reconsidered 391 active regulatory proceedings by reclassifying them as long-term or inactive "allowing for further careful review," the White House said. The steps to eliminate regulations makes good on a much-repeated Trump campaign promise to promote business-friendly policies. Investors have anticipated the action, helping to push share prices higher on hopes that fewer regulations will boost business growth and lead to higher corporate profits. The Trump administration has identified nearly 300 regulations related to energy production and environmental protection it plans to rescind, review or delay across three agencies. White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said the administration was addressing "that slow cancer that can come from regulatory burdens that we put on our people." Some condemned the plan. "Six months into the administration, the only accomplishments the president has had is to rollback, delay and rescind science-based safeguards," said Yogin Kothari of the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Today’s release of the regulatory agenda confirms just as much. It continues to perpetuate a false narrative that regulations only have costs and no benefits.”<br/>
Britain’s strategy for boosting the aviation sector will seek to enhance connectivity as it quits the EU, tighten noise and pollution curbs, tap new anti-terrorist technologies and improve the travel experience with everything from personal baggage collection to smoother border controls. The plan would also seek to safeguard Britain’s aerospace manufacturing base, advance the development of a homegrown space industry and encourage new developments such as drones and personal “flying taxis” while maintaining a rigorous regulatory regime, according to a call for evidence issued by the Department for Transport Friday. At the heart of the strategy, intended to guide policy making to 2050 and beyond, is a commitment to build a GBP16b-pound third runway at London Heathrow airport. The study will also consider how best to use spare capacity at other hubs before the new strip opens in 2030, especially as Britain seeks to safeguard and extend air links before quitting the EU. Also under consideration is the impact of Britain’s air-passenger tax on competition, whether the system for allocating operating slots at busy airports might be improved, and if current rules on state aid are “correctly balanced.”<br/>
Sharjah’s Airport Authority announced Thursday it is investing Dh110m to build a new private jet terminal at Sharjah International Airport. The authority said it has signed two commercial agreements with Gama Support Services, the first of which is for a private jet terminal. The second deal grants Gama the right to provide ground handling services to business jet owners, business jets and crew members at the terminal. The terminal will be constructed and operated by Gama, and will contribute to developing the private jet and the broader aviation industry in Sharjah, the Authority said. The project spans over 40,000 square metres in Sharjah International Airport, and comprises two private jet hangers with a capacity of two large Boeing Business Jets each. It also has a terminal for business jet owners and crew members that includes lounges and duty free shops. The Authority said the project will include an aircraft fuelling unit, aircraft parking apron for business jets and car parking spaces.<br/>