The United States has lifted a ban on travellers flying Etihad Airways from using laptop computers or other large electronics on board, after the United Arab Emirates-based airline beefed up its security.
The Department of Homeland Security announced over the weekend that Etihad would no longer be included in the ban after the airline implemented enhanced security measures at its core hub airport in Abu Dhabi.
In March, the U.S. banned the use of electronics in cabin on flights from 10 cities in 8 countries, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa. It was believed at the time that terrorists had been attempting to build explosives that could be concealed inside electronic devices.
But Abu Dhabi is now excluded from the list after the airline implemented new protocols at the airport that include more passenger screening.
2/2 Kudos to @EtihadAirways for swift security changes. Passengers will now be able to bring PEDs into the cabin of their US-bound flights
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@SpoxDHS
“The US Immigration facility at Abu Dhabi Airport allows you to clear US immigration and customs formalities before you fly to the US, instead of after landing,” the airline said. “Additional security checks also mean you can now take all your electronic devices safely on board with you.”
The move makes Abu Dhabi the only airport in the region to have new stringent security measures in place, and gives Etihad a competitive advantage over other carriers, at least until more airports beef up their security. Currently, Etihad is the only airline that offers non-stop flights between the U.S. and Abu Dhabi.
