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Cabin Electronics Ban Lifted on Flights From Abu Dhabi

Julian Mark Kheel
Julian Mark Kheel
Contributor
July 02, 2017
•
3 min read
13-08-06-abu-dhabi-airport-01
Cabin Electronics Ban Lifted on Flights From Abu Dhabi
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Etihad Airways announced today that the cabin electronics ban has been lifted on all US-bound flights departing from Abu Dhabi (AUH) airport. Effective immediately, passengers may begin bringing laptops and other portable electronic devices on board with them when departing on flights from the United Arab Emirates capital.

The change is a result of recent rules put in place by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which earlier this week announced a set of enhanced security measures that airports could implement in order to avoid being covered by the ban. Since Abu Dhabi has an existing US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facility, it's not surprising that it's the first airport able to meet the new security procedures.

Etihad began sending emails informing customers about the change in policy.

The lifting of the ban at Abu Dhabi will primarily benefit Etihad, which began informing its customers about the policy change this morning. The city serves as the airline's primary hub in the region, with daily nonstop flights to five US destinations — New York (JFK), Washington, D.C. (IAD), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX). In addition, the airport is one of the world's busiest international hubs, with more than 80 airlines serving over 100 destinations.

The cabin electronics ban was originally implemented in March at 10 airports across eight countries in the Middle East and Africa due to heightened security concerns following an incident aboard a flight between Mogadishu, Somalia, and Djibouti City, Djibouti, in which a bomb built into a laptop computer exploded and blew a hole in the main fuselage of the aircraft. After the ban was put in place, there were regular reports that it could be expanded to include flights departing from European airports as well, but that option is now unlikely for the vast majority of airports that will be able to implement the enhanced security procedures.

There has not yet been any indication of changes at either Dubai (DXB) or Doha (DOH), which are the respective hubs of Emirates and Qatar, Etihad's main Middle Eastern competitors. The latter is currently experiencing unrelated restrictions of much of its airspace by its neighbors, heavily constraining the volume of traffic it can accommodate in and out of Doha.

H/T: Associated Press via New York Daily News

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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