US lifts electronics ban on Emirates' flights from Dubai

The ban on carrying large electronic devices like laptops as cabin luggage has been lifted by the US for in-bound Emirates' flights from Dubai International Airport with immediate effect, the airline said on Wednesday.

"Effective immediately, the electronics ban has been lifted for Emirates' flights from Dubai International Airport to the US," an Emirates spokesperson said in a statement. Thousands of Indians, who take connecting flights from Dubai airport to the US, were also affected by the ban.

According to the statement, the airline was working in coordination with various aviation stakeholders and the local authorities to implement heightened security measures and protocols that meet the requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security's new security guidelines for all US-bound flights.

The announcement came after the US first lifted the ban on Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

On Tuesday, the Turkish Airlines announced that the US will lift the ban on electronics on flights from Istanbul from Wednesday, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

In March, Washington banned devices larger than a smartphone in cabins on US-bound flights from 10 airports in eight countries -- Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- citing the threat of bombs hidden in electronic devices.

--IANS

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