US won’t ban laptops on flights from Europe: report

The Trump administration has decided not to ban laptops on the cabins of U.S.-bound flights from Europe, Politico reported Tuesday.

The decision was reportedly announced during a conference call between Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and European Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc.

A spokesperson for Homeland Security, however, said in a statement that the ban is still on the table.

“While a much-discussed expansion of the ban on large electronic devices in the cabin on flights to the United States was not announced today, the Secretary made it clear that an expansion is still on the table,” the spokesperson said.

“Secretary Kelly affirmed he will implement any and all measures necessary to secure commercial aircraft flying to the United States — including prohibiting large electronic devices from the passenger cabin — if the intelligence and threat level warrant it.”

The White House has been weighing for weeks whether to expand the security protocol, which currently applies to 10 airports in the Middle East and Africa, amid growing concern about terrorists pursuing new methods to smuggle bombs on planes.

The European Union and the travel industry have been urging the administration to consider alternative security options, warning a laptop ban could hurt the airline industry and the global economy.

U.S. and EU officials met in both Brussels and Washington on the issue this month.

– This story was updated at 2:57 p.m.