Electronics Ban Lifted on Etihad Airways

Flights from Abu Dhabi cleared after meeting Homeland Security requirements.

Flyers aboard Etihad Airways flying from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) can once again carry personal electronics in their carry-on luggage after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security lifted a temporary ban dating back to March 2017. The New York Times reports that the new regulations are in effect as of Sunday, July 2.

The sanctions were dropped after the airline and AUH officials began enhanced security screening procedures of passengers and their luggage. The behind-the-scenes deal was brokered in part by Etihad executives, DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and ambassadors for the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Homeland Security operates a customs pre-clearance facility at AUH for passenger convenience.

“The UAE is a leading hub of global aviation and we need to work closely with our international partners to continually enhance intelligence and security measures to protect the traveling public,” Yousef Al Otaiba, ambassador of the UAE to the United States, told The National. “The new measures also will help to increase travel flows to the US which is great for the US and the UAE economies.”

Days before the personal electronics ban was dropped at AUH, DHS officials announced new security standards for all flights heading into the United States. These include, but are not limited to, increased screening of electronics, enhanced passenger screening and the use of additional measures to prevent prohibited items from boarding.

Although AUH will be the first to benefit from the enhanced screening procedures, personal electronics larger than a smartphone are still barred on flights direct to the United States from nine airports originating in seven nations. According to a DHS fact sheet, the personal electronics ban will “remain in place until the threat changes,” as the TSA “continuously assesses security risks and seeks to balance necessary security requirements with their operational impact on the industry.”

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