The Department of Homeland Security is considering expanding
the ban on large carry-on electronic devices (laptops and tablets) to inbound U.S. flights from 71 airports
around the world, DHS secretary John Kelly said in testimony on Capitol Hill on
Wednesday.
The DHS hasn't said which airports are under review.
"They are, generally, both in Europe and other regions,
including the Middle East and Africa," DHS spokesman David Lapan said in a
Thursday email to Travel Weekly.
Presently, the U.S. bans carry-on electronic devices larger
than a cell phone on inbound flights from 10 airports in the Middle East and
North Africa.
"We're tracking a range of potential terror threats,
and accordingly, DHS is looking at ways --working with airlines and foreign
partners -- to increase the baseline of aviation security globally, especially
on U.S.-bound flights," Lapan said.
At its annual general meeting in Cancun this week, IATA
called on governments to steer clear of expanding the laptop ban, instead implementing
other security measures to ameliorate terrorist threats.