Qatar Airways says flights now exempt from USA laptop ban

Qatar Airways said all personal electronic devices can be carried on board US-bound flights with immediate effect after it met all security requirements.

The Department of Homeland Security announced last week that airports and airlines would be removed from the ban once they comply with enhanced security directives.

Passengers on Qatar Airways will be allowed to take laptops and other large electronic devices in the cabin on USA flights, the airline has announced. The ban was also lifted on Etihad Airways' flights to the USA from Abu Dhabi International Airport on Sunday.

Saudia, Saudi Arabia's national carrier has said passengers will be able to take electronic items in the cabin of its United States flights from July 19, but no announcements have yet been made about services from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Morocco.

"We would also like to thank our loyal passengers for their understanding and patience while the ban has been in place".

Qatar Airways has not commented. "If [you] continue this way, at the end of the day you will have people sitting in the airplane with underwear and nothing [else] on them".

The figure represents a almost eight-year low in growth.

Countries affected by the United Kingdom ban are Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Turkey.

Qatar Airways is considering adding a second daily flight from Dublin to Doha just weeks after launching its first service between the two cities, according to its chief executive, Akbar Al Baker.

In a statement, the airline said restrictions on carrying items like laptops and iPads onboard direct flights to the USA had been lifted "with immediate effect".