Laptop ban baffles UAE

– The United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the world’s top aviation hubs, says it is surprised by the ban on laptops in plane cabins bound for the United States because UAE security is already tight, but pledges to cooperate with US authorities.

Washington announced the new measure on Tuesday, prohibiting electronic devices larger than smartphones in cabins on flights from 10 airports in countries including the UAE, Qatar and Turkey.

That will hit Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways but not US airlines, none of which fly to those airports. The Gulf airlines have been battling a lobbying campaign in Washington by US carriers that accuse them of receiving unfair subsidies, charges that the Gulf carriers deny.

In the UAE’s first official response to the ban, Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri, minister of economy and chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority, said it was surprising because the UAE aviation sector and airports had proven themselves safe.

“The UAE is the number oneranked country worldwide by the International Civil Aviation Organisation regarding the UAE’s compliance with international security and safety standards,” he said in a statement late on Thursday. –