ANKARA: A senior official says Turkey is taking steps to keep Istanbul's main airport and its national carrier, Turkish Airlines, outside of the scope of new aviation restrictions imposed by the United States and Britain.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu on Thursday criticized the two countries for not consulting with Turkey before deciding to ban some electronics, including laptops, on board flights from some airports in the Middle East and north Africa, including Istanbul.
Muftuoglu said taking measures "against people that pose a threat instead of punishing normal passengers would be more effective."
The spokesman also claimed Istanbul's Ataturk Airport was one of the safest in the world.
More than 40 people were killed last year in an attack on the airport that was blamed on the Islamic State group.