The US government's electronics ban might be expanded to 71 airports overseas, a dramatic increase from the 10 airports where the security protocol currently applies, said a report.

Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly told a House panel on Wednesday that the administration is currently analysing whether to expand the ban to include dozens of airports in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to Reuters.

"We are looking right now at an additional 71 airports," Kelly said. "We're also looking at ways that we think we can mitigate the threat" without expanding the ban.

Kelly said the move would be part of a broader airline security effort to combat what he called "a real sophisticated threat."

The restrictions on laptops were first announced in March for US-bound flights originating from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, the report said.

The administration has been considering an expansion of the security measure, which officials say is needed because terrorists are pursuing innovative methods to smuggle bombs onto commercial flights.