US might expand laptop ban to 71 airports: Homeland Security

The U.S. government might expand a ban on larger electronics like laptops in airplane cabins to flights originating from dozens of airports in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the head of Homeland Security said on June 7, though an expansion could be avoided if countries agree to improved security procedures.

The U.S. restrictions imposed in March currently cover about 350 flights a week originating from 10 airports, primarily in the Middle East. Extending the ban to all European airports that directly serve U.S. airports would affect nearly 400 flights a day and cover 30 million travelers and pose major logistical challenges, airlines and security officials say.

"We are looking right now at an additional 71 airports," Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly told a House of Representatives panel. 

"We're also looking at ways that we think we can mitigate the threat" without expanding the ban.

Kelly said his deputy will attend a conference in Malta next week "to present what we think are the minimum increased security standards ... and present those to people to say if you meet these standards we will not ban large electronics."

The restrictions on laptops announced in March, including on flights originating from airports in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, came amid fears that a concealed bomb could be installed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

Britain quickly followed suit with restrictions on a slightly different set of routes.

Kelly said many countries are working to not be added to the ban list by improving screening to "detect this very sophisticated device."

He called the danger real. "This is a very serious constant threat to knock down an airplane...