Restrictions first imposed last March by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on toting large personal electronics devices through airports were recently rescinded in accordance with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly’s orders.
Limitations applied specifically to 10 different airports using nine airlines in the Middle East and North Africa. Just as those facilities and businesses achieved the initial phase of security enhancements, airlines the world over also expanded security.
DHS credited the success to participants’ prompt response. Decisive steps taken by nations, airlines and others helped to raise the bar on aviation security and improve coordination and communication among government agencies and aviation stakeholders, according to the department.
Acknowledging that terrorism has not abated, Kelly began the original initiative in late June, stating that the United States will not stand by and ignore threats. More than 280 airports and their 180 airlines have complied with the most recent phase of enhanced security measures as specified by DHS.
“(It) is time that we raise the global baseline of aviation security,” said Kelly. “We cannot play international whack-a-mole with each new threat.”
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