Worcester

BA has added MLE into the airports where it bans larger electronics in hand baggage (note this includes all external hard drives no matter what the size.

https://www.britishairways.com/trave...b?p_faqid=5709

Odd as the FAA are at the same time considering banning electronics (or rather their Li batteries) from the hold.

Only affects flights from MLE to the UK, outbound to MLE is not affected.

No idea why terrorists with a bomb invisible to x-ray machine won't just fly to any number of other airports in the region and catch a BA flight there.

warakorn

Unfortunately, quite a big share of IS terrrorists in Syria and Iraq are coming from the Maldives. It's quite reasonable to jack up security at MLE.

Worcester

Oh absolutely. I would just question the wisdom of filling the hold with Lithium batteries to improve safety...

I also hope that they are right and terrorists are morons (which I concede there appears quite a lot f evidence for this theory) and don't book flights to a non-electronics ban airport or put them bomb into something other than a laptop or Kindle e-reader.

Fitch

The threat is dynamic and we are constantly having to balance necessary countermeasures against inconvenience and (yes) cost...

Security professionals would argue that, in terms of deaths caused, fully-scanned hold baggage with a 1-in-X chance of catastrophic fire beats quickly scanned carry ons with an n-in-X chance of enemy action.

This sits well with the pols too as deaths from accidents have better optics than those from terror attacks ...

So kit is banned in the cabin and we all roll the dice !

AmaaiZeg

That's a long flight on the old 777 without an ipad or kindle reader!

Upupintheair

Indeed....me in a weeks time

AmaaiZeg

Oh dear! Back to reading books the old fashioned way!

Centurion

This is a very smart move. I have observed a severe weak security spot in the Maldives. Does anyone know the appropriate Government entity to contact for USA citizens?

Greenpen

Try a book!

Upupintheair

Yes, that is now the plan

gms

To be fair, the last time I flew out of the Maldives (a few years ago) the airport was one of the most chaotic and disorganised I'd experienced. The BA departure was assigned to the same gate area (and security) as I think 3 other long-haul departures within about 15 minutes of each other. So over 1,000 passengers all trying to get through at the same time!

Betteronacamel

Came back from there a few days ago (not on BA). Passport and ticket check before getting into the check-in area. Bag scans before check-in. Further bag scans after immigration. The airport is small by most standards and not a particularly pleasant place. Seems to be in the middle of a construction zone associated with the building of the causeway/bridge that will link the airport to Male by road. Possible airport expansion under way?

BTW the lounge is 'dry'.

Duograph B15507

With the Maldives being a majority Muslim nation, it doesn't surprise me that there could be terrorist related activities or activists emanating from there.

No surprises that the bar was 'dry' and the government didn't encourage the locals to flirt with the paying passengers, so to speak.

There has also been travel horror stories about being robbed after dark in the Maldives by angry local gangs, some of whom arrive by boat in the night to rob holiday-makers in moored yachts, thus stranded from any immediate help.

Unfortunately, many of these issues seem far more political than religious, and there are risks involved at all times for international visitors.

A number of airlines (including Air America, China Airlines, Civil Air Transport and Southern Air Transport) were, over the years, shown to be 'assets' of secret services agencies, as Victor L. Marchetti Jr. divulged in his books and his years with the US government, all adding to the risks to an unassuming public.

DesertNomad

So how would one fly BA MLE-LHR-JFK? On the first segment electronics have to be in the hold, but on the second segment that have to be in the cabin... except you never get to see your bags in London.

gms

Since the MLE flights are LGW based if you had any connection via LHR you would have to retrieve your bags at LGW and re-check at LHR. So no issue there.

If you were connecting to another flight at LGW, then there will be some logistical challenges for airlines to deal with.