New airport regulations introduced in the UK which demand that electronic devices in hand luggage must be charged to be allowed on flights will affect travellers at Ronaldsway airport.
The UK Department of Transport made an announcement last week asking passengers ‘to ensure electronic and electrical devices in hand luggage are sufficiently charged to be switched on’ and the island’s airport will be following suit.
An Isle of Man Airport spokesman said: ‘The instruction to all passengers in and out of Ronaldsway Airport is – make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel.
‘If the device doesn’t switch on when requested, you won’t be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.
‘Therefore the options to the passengers are a) not to travel, b) ask for the device to be kept and the passenger picks it up when they return, c) give an address to which the device can be sent.’
The UK government said that the checks apply to unspecified flights to and from the UK and came after an apparent terror threat prompted the US to announce extra security checks last week.
The UK Department of Transport issued the following statement: ‘The UK government keeps aviation security under constant review in conjunction with international partners and the aviation industry.
‘On July 2 we announced we were stepping up some of our aviation security measures. In line with the US advice, passengers on some routes into and out of the UK may now also be required to show that electronic devices in their hand luggage are powered up or face not being allowed to bring the device onto the aircraft.
‘Passengers flying into or out of the UK are therefore advised to make sure electronic devices being carried in their hand luggage are charged before they travel.
‘For obvious reason we will not be commenting in detail on the routes affected.
‘We will work with the aviation industry to minimise disruption as far as possible.
‘The UK has some of the most robust aviation security measures in the world and we will continue to take all the steps necessary to ensure that public safety is maintained.’