Abu Dhabi airport now exempt from US laptop ban

The capital of the United Arab Emirates becomes the first city to be exempt from a US ban on laptop computers being in the cabins of airplanes coming from the Mideast, the country’s flag carrier says.

Long-haul airline Etihad says it welcomes the decision by the US Department of Homeland Security, which comes “subject to enhanced security measures” at Abu Dhabi International Airport. That airport already has a US Customs and Border Protection facility that allows passengers to clear screening they’d otherwise have to go through when landing in America.

Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said US officials already had seen that “the measures have been implemented correctly and to the full extent required” in Abu Dhabi. He says American monitors would make further visits to ensure the checks were being done properly.

“The enhanced security measures, both seen and unseen, include enhanced screening of passengers and electronic devices,” Lapan says, declining to elaborate. “We commend Etihad for working swiftly to implement these additional measures. Their efforts are a model for both foreign and domestic airlines.”

— AP