ABU DHABI 3 July 2017: If you are planning to travel to the US in the near future, Etihad wants to let you know that you can now take all your electronic devices on board its US flights from Abu Dhabi.
It appears that the US – after its latest round of enhanced security inspections before boarding of flights from 105 countries [see below] – has cleared Abu Dhabi and allowed previously banned onboard electronics.
Why?
The US has an Immigration facility at Abu Dhabi Airport, which not only enables passengers to clear US immigration before they fly to the US, but with the additional security checks in place, travellers can now take all their electronic devices safely on board, said Etihad Airways in an emailed statement.
“If you are travelling with us to the United States from Abu Dhabi International Airport, you are now able to carry all electronic devices on board,” it added.
US Immigration Facility
The US Immigration facility at Abu Dhabi Airport allows you to clear US immigration and customs formalities before you fly to the US, instead of after landing. It has in place additional security checks, which means you can now take all your electronic devices safely on board with you.
On landing in the US, you arrive as a domestic passenger with no need for immigration checks again. Your luggage will arrive at your final destination without needing to re-check it for an onward US journey.
All guests travelling to the US, must clear US Immigration and customs before they fly using the US Customs and Border Protection facility in Terminal 3.
“We welcome the decision by the US Department of Homeland Security to lift the electronic devices ban on flights between Abu Dhabi and the United States, following the successful validation of security measures at the US Preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi airport earlier today (2 July 2017).
“Effective immediately, the removal of the restrictions allows passengers flying to the US to carry all laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices onto the aircraft, subject to enhanced security measures.
“We would like to thank our guests for their understanding and loyalty while the ban was in place.”
Affecting 180 airlines and 280 airports, it is anticipated that Etihad Airways is one of the first airlines to be able to satisfy the short-term measures required by the Transportation Security Administration due to the superior security advantages provided by the preclearance facility.
Etihad Airways currently operates 45 flights a week between Abu Dhabi and six cities across the United States – including double daily to New York, daily to Washington, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles, and three-times-per-week to San Francisco.
The US is one of Etihad Airways’ largest markets, with 203,515 passengers flying to the US from Abu Dhabi between 1 January and 30 April 2017. This was up by 13,157 passengers for the same period in 2016.
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By Eudore R. Chand