The U.S. Travel Association commented on the potential expansion of an electronics ban on incoming flights from Europe that is already in place for flights from 10 airports in the Middle East and Africa. The measure has not been formally announced, but “official government sources” and others have hinted at the ban.
Here is the message attributed to U.S. Travel Association Executive VP for Public Affairs Jonathan Grella.
“If there is a legitimate terror threat, the flying public needs to take it seriously and adjust to the new protocols as best they can,” Grella said. “Travelers have been through this kind of thing before and are more resilient than we often think—plus the consequences of a major attack on the transportation system hardly need to be repeated. Threats are ever-evolving, and so must we all be.
“Still, it is critical that the U.S. government clearly communicate the details of this new policy and the reasons why it’s needed, continually reassess it to ensure it remains relevant and effective, and actively seek protocols that neutralize threats while minimizing disruption for legitimate business and leisure travelers.
“May travel always be safe and convenient as possible. Kudos to airlines for prioritizing security, but especially the ones who also are providing safe devices to passengers to mitigate inconvenience.”
Various news outlets have suggested that the U.S. government could make an announcement on the expansion of the electronics ban to include Europe as early as Thursday, May 11, but so far this has not been confirmed.
