Turkey objects to US restrictions on flight tech

Passengers traveling to the United States from 10 airports in eight Muslim-majority countries will be prohibited from bringing laptops, tablets and other portable electronic devices on board with them when they fly. The nine airlines affected by the US ban are Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways. (AFP)

CAIRO: The Latest developments related to the U.S. government move to bar passengers in eight Muslim-majority countries from bringing laptops and other electronics onboard direct flights to the United States.
Turkey's transportation minister says his country is in talks with United States authorities to "stop or soften" the U.S. restriction on electronics for flights bound from Istanbul to the U.S.
Minister Ahmet Arslan objected to the restriction on Tuesday, saying it would reduce both the comfort and number of passengers, the private Dogan news agency reported.
Arslan urged the U.S. to "not confuse Istanbul with other places," saying that Turkish authorities already take every possible security precaution. He added Turkey expects the issue to be resolved in the coming days.
Turkey's main carrier, Turkish Airlines, posted a notice on its website informing passengers to not bring on board "any electronic or electrical devices larger than a cellphone or smartphone (except medical devices)" to flights arriving in U.S. destinations.