World’s top airport association calls for urgent solution to laptop ban

ISTANBUL

REUTERS photo

The Airports Council International (ACI) has called for the immediate reversal of a ban on electronic devices in aircraft cabins amid efforts from TAV Airports President and CEO Sani Şener, the company said in a statement April 11. 

Following a meeting held in Doha, the ACI governing board released a media bulletin and highlighted alternative solutions such as additional security measures and the use of state-of-the-art technology for cabin baggage screening. 

“The ACI Governing Board failed to understand why proposals made by Istanbul Atatürk Airport have not been considered,” the statement said.

Şener has been a member of the governing board of ACI World representing Europe since 2014. 

The United States and the United Kingdom recently banned electronic items larger than a mobile phone in aircraft cabins for flights coming from selected airports, including Istanbul Atatürk Airport. 

Şener said the ban was tied to commercial concerns and was an attempt to prevent the growth of Turkish Airlines (THY) and airline companies operating in the Gulf region, according to the statement. 

“The recent ban on electronic items in the aircraft cabin by the United States and the United Kingdom for flights coming from selected airports has again highlighted the challenges that the industry faces in the current security climate,” the ACI World Governing Board said. 

“Airports, along with industry partners and governments, put security as a top priority and understand the need to implement measures rapidly when a heightened threat level is identified. However, information sharing and coordination on security measures among governments and with the industry is also crucial to ensure effective security. In particular, inconsistency in the application of security measures does not lead to security effectiveness and may result in simply moving the threat to other locations rather than addressing it. In the present case, it also leads to passenger confusion and results in commercial distortions not just for airlines but also for airports,” it said, calling for urgent consideration for alternative solutions.