The United States has lifted a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, saying Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures.
Etihad welcomed the decision on Sunday and credited a facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport where passengers clear U.S. immigration before they land in the United States for "superior security advantages" that had allowed it to satisfy U.S. requirements.
Transportation Security Administration officials have checked that the measures had been implemented correctly, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
U.S. officials assessed the airport on Saturday night, Abdul Majeed al-Khoori, acting chief executive of operator Abu Dhabi Airports told Reuters on Monday.
The disruption to passengers from the new measures will be "very minimal" with the processing time for those traveling to the United States unchanged, he said by phone.
Etihad is the only airline that operates direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States.
Source: Reuters
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 04 2017, @11:38PM
I once went through preclearance in Ireland. It seemed that the officers were locals who held dual US citizenship. I don't think they were carrying weapons either.