Device ban ‘a surprise’ for the UAE

ABU DHABI // The chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority was surprised by the ban on electronic devices on US-bound flights from UAE airports given the country’s security and safety record. “The UAE is top ranked by the International Civil Aviation Organisation on compliance with security standards,” said GCAA chairman and Minister of Economy, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, on the ban that comes into force today.

The US department of homeland security has set out new rules that ban airline passengers from 10 airports, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar, from carrying electronic devices larger than normal smartphones into the plane cabin. Passengers on long- haul flights going to the US need to check in electronic devices such as tablets and laptops before boarding their flights.

UAE national carrier Etihad Airways said it was sending out email alerts and had put up signs at check-in desks to prepare passengers for the change in rules.

Passengers will no longer be able to take smartphones, tablets and laptops larger than 16cm x 9.3cm into the cabin for flights to the US.

“To avoid inconvenience, guests are encouraged to pack the prohibited items in their checked baggage prior to reaching the preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi,” the airline said yesterday.

“Any prohibited electronic devices will have to be declared and placed in padded envelopes before being securely taken to the aircraft luggage hold by staff.”

Emirates airline said on Thursday that it would collect devices that fell under the ban just before passengers boarded flights to the US.

It will then pack them in boxes that will be put in the plane’s hold. Emirates passengers will then be able to collect their electronics when they arrive in the US.