Abdul Basit
Dubai – Emirates airline and Etihad Airways have notified their passengers about the US ban on larger electronic devices in cabin luggage. Both the UAE airlines on Tuesday evening published the luggage restrictions on their websites.
“The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a directive regarding electronic devices in cabin luggage on US routes from Dubai. As per the directive, except for medical devices, electronic devices which are larger than a cell phone/smartphone cannot be carried in the cabin of the aircraft. This would be effective on 25 March 2017. This is applicable to all US-bound passengers from Dubai International Airport, whether originating or transiting through. Emirates requests that all passengers travelling to the US pack all electronic devices larger than a smartphone in their checked-in baggage,” according to Emirates airline website.
Etihad Airways says, “Following a directive from US authorities affecting selected airports, Etihad Airways has been advised that guests travelling to the United States from Abu Dhabi International Airport are not permitted to carry electronic devices larger than a cell phone or smartphone in the cabin.”
“Mobile phones and medical devices are permitted but larger items such as laptops, tablets, cameras and e-readers will need to be placed into checked-in baggage. For those guests bound for the U.S., this must be done at the point of origin which may not necessarily be at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The new rules come into effect for those US-bound flights departing Abu Dhabi on 25th March,” the statement says.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom also banned electronics in the cabin of flights from six Middle Eastern countries, joining a similar US ban that began the same day, a government spokesman said Tuesday.
Unlike the US ban, which began Tuesday and covered more countries, the British ban covers domestic airlines. “The additional security measures may cause some disruption for passengers and flights, and we understand the frustration that will cause, but our top priority will always be to maintain the safety of British nationals,” a spokesman for the prime minister said. The ban covers electronics larger than cellphones.
The ban covers non-stop flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. The list includes two countries that the US ban didn’t cover — Lebanon and Tunisia — and didn’t include several on the US list: Morocco, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
Airlines affected by the ban include British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson.
