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ANKARA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan on Tuesday slammed the U.S. ban on passengers carrying electronics on board, describing it "not beneficial" to tourists, local Hurriyet reported.
Arslan said that Istanbul Ataturk Airport, which hosts more than 80 million flights per year, shouldn't be mixed with other airports in other countries, adding the decision was not right from both Turkey and the U.S. sides.
Turkey would ask the United States to reverse the ban on electronic devices, he noted.
Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national flag carrier, confirmed Tuesday it was one of the airlines subject to a U.S. ban on passengers carrying electronics larger than cell phones inside the cabin on U.S.-bound flights.
The new rule will be implemented on its direct flight from Istanbul to New York on Wednesday morning, the Turkish Airlines officials said.
According to U.S. media report, passengers will be barred from bringing laptops, tablets, digital cameras and other large electronics as cabin luggage on nonstop U.S.-bound flights originating from eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Istanbul in Turkey.
