WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States has lifted a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, saying Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures.

FILE PHOTO - An illustration picture shows a laptop on the screen of an X-ray security scanner, April 7, 2017. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic/Illustration/File Photo

Etihad welcomed the decision on Sunday and credited a facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers clear U.S. immigration before they land in the United States for “superior security advantages” that had allowed it to satisfy U.S. requirements.

Transportation Security Administration officials have checked that the measures had been implemented correctly, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

U.S. officials assessed the airport on Saturday night, Abdul Majeed al-Khoori, acting chief executive of operator Abu Dhabi Airports told Reuters on Monday.

The disruption to passengers from the new measures will be “very minimal” with the processing time for those traveling to the United States unchanged, he said by phone.

Etihad is the only airline that operates direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States.

In March the United States banned laptops in cabins on flights to the United States originating at 10 airports in eight countries - Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey - to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

Britain quickly followed suit with a similar set of restrictions.

Last week the United States unveiled security measures for flights to the country designed to prevent the expansion of the ban to more countries that could cause major logistical problems and deter travel.

DHS spokesman David Lapan said in a statement provided to Reuters that Ethiad’s efforts to implement extra security measures were a model for foreign and domestic airlines.

Other airports and airlines in the region, such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, remain under the restrictions, he said.

“We look forward to working with other airlines to ensure implementation of these critical measures as quickly as possible,” said Lapan.

Dubai Airports, the operator of Emirates hub Dubai International Airport, said on Monday it had offered its “full cooperation ... to satisfy the U.S. directive as quickly as possible.”

Etihad operates 45 flights a week between Abu Dhabi and the United States, the company said.

Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline and a rival to Etihad, said in April it was cutting flights on five U.S. routes because of reduced demand after a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump and the laptop ban.</s>Travellers flying to the US from Abu Dhabi can now use their laptops to kill time during the flight.

Etihad's US-bound flights departing from Abu Dhabi International Airport have been exempted from the electronics ban implemented in March, Etihad Airways announced on its website over the weekend. The exemption came following "enhanced security measures" at the airport, although no specifics were given.

The ban, implemented after it was discovered terrorists were building an explosive that could be concealed in carry-on electronic devices, prohibited electronics larger than a phone on US-bound flights from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa. The US had planned on expanding the ban to cover all international flights arriving in the US, but later decided otherwise. Instead, flights and airports are now required to boost security checks.

The flights were removed from the ban after the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed they met tighter security standards put in place last week, reported CBS News.

"This approval is verified with visual confirmation by TSA officials ensuring the measures have been implemented correctly and to the full extent required," read the statement obtained by CBS News. "Following the initial visit, TSA officials will resume their regularly scheduled visits to observe operations."

Solving for XX: The tech industry seeks to overcome outdated ideas about "women in tech."</s>Back in March, the US transport safety administration announced it would no longer allow large electronic devices such as laptops on flights originating from several countries, most of them located in the Middle East. But now, the controversial ban has been lifted for those traveling from one of the cities – Abu Dhabi.

Providing that passengers are flying nonstop to the US with long-haul airline Etihad – the only carrier with direct flights to America from Abu Dhabi – they can once again carry their laptops into the cabin with them. The airline operates 45 flights each week between the United Arab Emirates capital and six US cities.

Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said that “seen and unseen” security measures have been implemented correctly and to the full extent required in the airport.

“We commend Etihad for working swiftly to implement these additional measures,” Lapan told the Associated Press. “Their efforts are a model for both foreign and domestic airlines.”

Abu Dhabi International Airport already has a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility that allows passengers to clear screening when they reach the States.

The ban on in-cabin electronic devices larger than a cellphone on US-bound flights is still in place for nine other airports in eight countries in the Middle East and Africa. It came amid intelligence reports that ISIS was planning to use laptops to smuggle explosives onto passenger aircraft.

The ban applies to airports in Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar; and Dubai in the UAE. It has seen several carriers, such as Emirates, cut the number of flights to the US.

In May, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said he was considering extending the ban to all international flights to and from the US, but decided against it.</s>WASHINGTON: The United States on Sunday (Jul 2) lifted a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, saying the United Arab Emirates' Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures.

Etihad Airways welcomed the decision, and credited a pre-clearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers clear US immigration before they land in the United States for "superior security advantages" that had allowed it to satisfy US requirements.

Etihad is the only airline that operates direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States.

In March the United States banned laptops in cabins on flights to the United States originating at 10 airports in eight countries - Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey - to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

Britain quickly followed suit with a similar set of restrictions.

Last week, the United States unveiled security measures for flights to the country designed to prevent the expansion of the ban to more countries that could cause major logistical problems and deter travel.

DHS spokesman David Lapan said on Twitter on Sunday that Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi International Airport "have implemented the required initial enhanced security measures."

Etihad Airways operates 45 flights a week between Abu Dhabi and the United States, the company said.

Dubai-based Emirates, the largest international airline by passenger traffic and a rival to Etihad, said in April it was cutting flights on five US routes due to reduced demand, after a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump and the laptop ban.</s>Etihad Airways welcomed the decision, and credited a preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers clear U.S. immigration before they land in the United States for "superior security advantages" that had allowed it to satisfy U.S. requirements.

Etihad is the only airline that operates direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States.

In March the United States banned laptops in cabins on flights to the United States originating at 10 airports in eight countries - Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey - to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

Britain quickly followed suit with a similar set of restrictions.

Last week, the United States unveiled security measures for flights to the country designed to prevent the expansion of the ban to more countries that could cause major logistical problems and deter travel.

DHS spokesman David Lapan said on Twitter on Sunday that Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi International Airport "have implemented the required initial enhanced security measures."

Etihad Airways operates 45 flights a week between Abu Dhabi and the United States, the company said.

Dubai-based Emirates, the largest international airline by passenger traffic and a rival to Etihad, said in April it was cutting flights on five U.S. routes due to reduced demand, after a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump and the laptop ban.</s>The United States has lifted a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, saying Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures. From a report:</s>Etihad Airways has confirmed travellers on its US bound flights from Abu Dhabi will again be able to carry all their electronic devices in carryon luggage.

The lifting of the electronics ban that has been in place since March 2017 was confirmed on Etihad’s website.

Passengers travelling on the Abu Dhabi-based carrier were forced to checkin all electronic devices larger than a phone since March 2017, following regulations imposed by the US that affected 10 airport in eight countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

However, the US flagged the potential end of the electronics ban, which received heavy criticism from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in late June when it announced new security measures for all international flights to the country.

“If you are travelling with us to the United States from Abu Dhabi International Airport, you are now able to carry all electronic devices on board,” Etihad said on its website.

The US Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) also confirmed Etihad and Abu Dhabi airport has had the ban on electronics lifted on its Twitter page.

The US Department of Homland Security said at the end of June the new security measures to apply to all inbound flights included enhancing overall passenger screening; conducting heightened screening of personal electronic devices; increasing security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas; and deploying advanced technology, expanding canine screening, and establishing additional preclearance locations.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said this move followed talks with stakeholders across the industry.

“It is time to raise the global baseline of aviation security,” Kelly said in statement on the DHS website.

“We cannot play international whack-a-mole with each new threat. Instead, we must put in place new measures across the board to keep the traveling public safe and make it harder for terrorists to succeed.

“With this announcement, we send a clear message that inaction is not an option.”</s>The United States is now letting Etihad fliers from Abu Dhabi bring their laptops and tablets as hand carriage.

“Effective immediately, the removal of the restrictions allows passengers flying to the US to carry all laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices onto the aircraft, subject to enhanced security measures,” the airline has detailed in a press statement.

According to the US, Etihad has installed tighter security measures instead, eliminating the need for the electronics ban. One of them is the US Pre-clearance facility at Terminal 3 in Abu Dhabi International Airport, said to be the only facility of its kind in the Middle East. Here, passengers go through proper US immigration procedures before flying ahead, in line with security requirements laid down by USA.

First announced in March over fears of bombs being easily concealed in devices carried aboard, the electronics ban is currently applicable to US-bound flights from nine international airports: Amman, Kuwait City, Cairo, Istanbul, Jeddah, Riyadh, Casablanca, Morocco, Doha and Dubai. However, Emirates has now stated that it is working on removing the ban from its Dubai–USA services.</s>An illustration picture shows a laptop on the screen of an X-ray security scanner, April 7, 2017. Picture taken April 7, 2017. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic/Illustration - RTS16BI7

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Sunday lifted a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, saying the United Arab Emirates' Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures.

Etihad welcomed the decision and credited a facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers clear U.S. immigration before they land in the United States for "superior security advantages" that had allowed it to satisfy U.S. requirements.

TSA officials visually verified that the measures had been implemented correctly, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Etihad is the only airline that operates direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States.

In March, the United States banned laptops in cabins on flights to the United States originating at 10 airports in eight countries - Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey - to address fears that bombs could be concealed in electronic devices taken aboard aircraft.

Britain quickly followed suit with a similar set of restrictions.

Last week, the United States unveiled security measures for flights to the country designed to prevent the expansion of the ban to more countries that could cause major logistical problems and deter travel.

DHS spokesman David Lapan said in a statement provided to Reuters that Ethiad's efforts to implement extra security measures were a model for foreign and domestic airlines.

Other airports and airlines in the region, such as Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airlines, remain under the restrictions, he said.

"We look forward to working with other airlines to ensure implementation of these critical measures as quickly as possible," said Lapan.

Etihad operates 45 flights a week between Abu Dhabi and the United States, the company said.

Dubai-based Emirates, the largest international airline by passenger traffic and a rival to Etihad, said in April it was cutting flights on five U.S. routes because of reduced demand, after a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump and the laptop ban.</s>Travellers banned from carrying their laptops with them on flights into the US have been handed a reprieve – as long as they are flying from Abu Dhabi.

The US government lifted the ban affecting flights from the capital of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday after Etihad Airways put in place extra airport security measures that made it unnecessary.

Etihad is the only airline to fly direct from the city to the US, with 45 flights scheduled each week.

The ban on carrying large electronic items - including laptops, iPads and Kindles - is still in place for flights from nine other airports in Muslim-majority countries.

The UK's equivalent ban did not include the UAE and only applies to flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Etihad credited a facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers can clear US immigration before they land in the United States for "superior security advantages" that had allowed it to satisfy US requirements.

The new measures had been inspected by officials from the US Transportation Security Administration before the ban was lifted.

The US ban includes airports at seven other countries: Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey.

Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said in a statement provided to Reuters that Etihad's efforts to implement extra security measures were a model for foreign and domestic airlines.

Other airlines flying from the Middle East, such as Emirates and Qatar Airlines, remain affected by the US ban.

Dubai-based Emirates said in April it was cutting capacity on five US routes because of reduced demand, first because of the travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump and now due to the laptop ban.

It is not clear whether restrictions affecting flights into the UK will be lifted should tighter security checks be imposed at any of the airports included in the UK ban.
The United States lifts its ban on electronics in the cabin of flights from Abu Dhabi to the U.S.