On Tuesday March 21st, the US Department of Homeland
Security and the US Transportation Security Administration issued a ban on all
electronics larger than a cellphone from the cabins of nonstop flights to the
US from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa. It's
disproportionately problematic for a carrier like Emirates, which counts on
international business travelers for a significant portion of its revenue and
to fill hundreds of seats in its fleet of Airbus A380 superjumbos.
Emirates Airlines is introducing a service that will allow
passengers to use their laptops and tablets until it's time to board their
US-bound flights instead of checking them with their luggage.
"Our aim is to ensure compliance with the new rules,
while minimizing disruption to passenger flow and impact on customer
experience," Emirates President Tim Clark said in a statement. "Our
new complimentary service enables passengers, particularly those flying for
business, to have the flexibility to use their devices until the last possible
moment."
Industry analysts and safety experts question the ban and
its intended ability to prevent a terrorist attack.
Emirates' service offers a partial fix. It also means
passengers flying through Dubai on their way to the US from India, for example,
will be able to use a laptop during the first flight and while they're at the
airport instead of having to check it at the start of the trip. It will also be
a solution for business travelers whose employers don't allow them to check
laptops for fear they could be lost or stolen with company information on them.
Passengers will be required to declare their large electronic
devices to security agents before boarding US-bound flights. The devices will
then be packed in secure boxes and stored in the aircraft's cargo hold. The
boxes will be returned to the travelers once they reach the US.
According to Emirates, passengers' carry-on bags will be
thoroughly searched by security personnel before they board nonstop flights to
the US.
On board the flight, passengers will be able to access the
internet on their phones through the airline's free Wi-Fi service. According to
Clark, 90% of the airline's passengers surf the web on their smartphones, while
only 6% use their laptops.
Emirates has also been touting its in-flight
entertainment system and its 2,500 channels of movies, TV shows, live sports,
and music.
Edited from Business Insider
