US eases laptop ban on flights from Abu Dhabi

The U.S. lifted its ban on laptops in plane cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the U.S. on Sunday.

“Etihad Airways & Abu Dhabi In’tl Airport have implemented the required initial enhanced security measures. [Personal electronic devices] restriction lifted,” Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said on Twitter.

1/2 Etihad Airways & Abu Dhabi In’tl Airport have implemented the required initial enhanced security measures. PEDs restriction lifted.

— David Lapan (@SpoxDHS) July 2, 2017

“Kudos to @EtihadAirways or swift security changes. Passengers will now be able to bring PEDs into the cabin of their US-bound flights,” he continued.

2/2 Kudos to @EtihadAirways for swift security changes. Passengers will now be able to bring PEDs into the cabin of their US-bound flights

— David Lapan (@SpoxDHS) July 2, 2017

Etihad Airways, which is the only airline that has direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the U.S., operates 45 U.S.-bound flights a week from Abu Dhabi.

The U.S. banned laptops on flights coming from 10 different airports in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in March.

{mosads}

The U.S. does not have jurisdictions over foreign airports, but has authority over airlines that have direct U.S.-bound flights. 

DHS announced on Wednesday the U.S. would be unveiling new aviation security measures for all international flights entering the country, instead of implementing the laptop ban.

The U.S. and Europe spent weeks negotiating whether to restrict large electronics on all flights bound for the U.S. However, passengers can expect to go through a more “extensive screening process.”

DHS officials said passengers would not be allowed to check or carry on large electronics if airlines did not follow the new security protocol.