Pakistan

PIA cashes in on US electronics ban on Middle East airlines

PIA isn't one of the airlines flying to the US that is barred from having electronic devices on board

News Desk March 23, 2017

HOTO: FAISAL MOIN/EXPRESS

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cashed in on United State's recent ban barring Middle East airlines from having electronic items on board.

The Trump administration on Tuesday imposed new restrictions on electronic devices carried by travelers coming to the United States from 10 airports mainly in the Middle East and North Africa in response to unspecified terror threats.

However, Pakistan's national flight carrier isn't one of the airlines flying to the US that is barred from having electronic devices on board.

PIA, in a tweet, said, "Don't let your work get interrupted onboard"

Did you know? You can carry your laptop/tablets onboard US bound #PIA flights. pic.twitter.com/pc8g8Owo9G
— PIA (@Official_PIA) March 22, 2017

PIA flies direct to New York from Lahore and has connecting flights to different US cities via Dubai.

US bans large electronics from 10 airports, mainly in Middle East

The Department of Homeland Security will now require passengers coming to the United States from airports in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Morocco and Qatar to check electronic devices larger than a cell phone such as tablets, portable DVD players, laptops and cameras.

The airports affected are in Amman, Cairo, Kuwait City, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Casablanca, Morocco; Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The airports are served by nine carriers that fly directly from those cities to the United States about 50 times a day and include Royal Jordanian Airlines, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways, senior government officials said.

COMMENTS (9)

Breaking Bad | 7 years ago | Reply Mansoor Bhai believe it or not but there is a direct flight between JFK and LHE @Mansoor Khalid:

stevenson | 7 years ago | Reply @Zee: Have you ever been on a PIA flight to Lahore or Islamabad ? It is always near full and many people abroad prefer it over any other airline, especially older expatriates. Despite the preference for PIA by Pakistanis, it is still losing money. This is what bothers people. Now more people will choose PIA over the Gulf airlines ( not big change for most of us) but will it change the profitability? My guess is that will take at least a decade of hard choices and job cuts to make it leaner and more efficient.

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Ali | 7 years ago | Reply Well that is because you don't get to fly directly to US

Haji Atiya | 7 years ago | Reply @powayman: Your understanding is not entirely correct. Designated airports serve as hubs for designated airlines. But if say a US or European carrier goes in and out of one of these designated airports they are not subject to that ban.

powayman | 7 years ago | Reply It is my understanding that the electronic ban isn't associated with individual airlines - it's associated with any flights to USA from designated airports.

Zee | 7 years ago | Reply yah PIA, don't get too excited. First, you need to get your planes off the ground and get them fly worthy before dreaming of "cahsing in"

kemosabe | 7 years ago | Reply Electronics or no electronics I wouldn't travel on PIA for numerous other reasons.

Mansoor Khalid | 7 years ago | Reply That is probably because PIA goes through extensive checking at Manchester Airport...so it isn't a direct flight actually. Check your fact before posting stuff ET (Unprofessional Journalism)*

I am a Khan | 7 years ago | Reply They will be included in the ban now :)

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