US ban on electronics affects flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi

Dubai: If you're travelling to the United States anytime soon, you might as well check in your laptops and other devices.
US-bound passengers from the UAE and other parts of the Gulf are among those covered by a new government ban on electronic items in flight cabins.
The US government is reportedly not allowing passengers on certain flights originating in the Middle East from including iPads, cameras, laptops and other electronic items in their carry-on bags starting Tuesday.
Etihad and Emirates, however, said they have yet to receive an official notification from US authorities regarding the ban.
An official from the US told The Associated Press that the prohibition will affect  US-bound nonstop flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Cairo in Egypt; Amman in Jordan; Kuwait City in Kuwait; Casablanca in Morocco; Doha in Qatar; Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Istanbul in Turkey.
A spokesperson for Emirates told Gulf News that they will comply with any changes on baggage



requirements imposed by aviation authorities. So far, however, the airline has not been officially notified about the US ban.
"Emirates will comply with any new operational or regulatory requirements issued by the relevant authorities," the airline said in a statement sent to Gulf News.
"At this time we have not received any  notification of changes to cabin luggage restrictions on US flights."
Etihad also said it has not been alerted about the new policy.
“The airline’s policies have not changed but we will continue to work closely with the authorities in the US and here in Abu Dhabi,” the airline said in a statement.
Other Middle East carriers have already alerted their passengers about the ban. In its latest notice, Royal Jordanian stated that, following instruction from concerned US departments, it is now prohibiting passengers departing to and arriving from the United States from carrying any electronic device inside the flight cabins.
“Cellular phones and medical devices needed during