You Won't Fly If The Battery Of Your Mobile Device Is Dead

By Ogova Ondego
Published July 15, 2014

Travellers with mobile devices will be prevented from boarding planes around the world unless they can turn on their phones, tablets, e-books, games and laptops in front of security teams and demonstrate how they function.

New security regulations demand that all electronic devices can be powered up before a passenger can be allowed to board a flight. This comes in the wake of warnings by authorities in the United States of America and the United Kingdom of a “credible threat” of terrorism using mobile devices. US and UK authorities are concerned electronic devices could be used as bombs.

Consequently, travellers may be asked to turn on any electrical or battery-powered device in their possession in front of security agents. Passengers who cannot demonstrate their devices have power will be barred from boarding.

Travellers are advised to ensure that all the electronic devices they bring with them are fully powered before they arrive at the airport. They are discouraged from bringing any non-functioning devices in their hand luggage to the airport as they may not just be prevented from travelling or subjected to additional screening but could also get arrested.

Airlines and travel agents are advising ‘transfer customers, especially those on long journeys’, to ensure they do not deplete power in their devices while on the first part of their journey as the availability of battery-charging may be limited in the airports they go through.

Reports from England indicate that British Airways will turn away passengers booked on US-bound flights if their electrical devices will not switch on and that any new device bought in the airport lounge after passing through security has to be charged up or the passengers will not be allowed to board at the gate even if they offer to abandon the items.

US authorities warn that terrorists have developed explosives that may pass for batteries of electronic devices and hence the need for the new security measures that have been put in place.

Meanwhile terminal facilities at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been renamed by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) with effect from June 30, 2014.

While the former Terminal 4 is now Terminal 1 A (International Departures/Arrivals) and Unit 1 is now Terminal 1B (International Departures), Unit 2 has been renamed Terminal 1 C (International Departures).

Unit 3 is now Terminal 1 D (Domestic) and Temporary Arrivals Terminal is Terminal 1 E (International Arrivals); Interim TerminalÂ and Green Field Terminal are now Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, respectively.