Etihad offers free iPads, Wi-Fi to sidestep electronics ban
Saturday, 29 Mar, 2017
0
While Emirates started a device handling service for flights affected by the electronics ban, fellow UAE carrier Etihad has gone a step further by offering free onboard iPads and Wi-Fi.
Aiming to attract more lucrative business travelers, Etihad will offer the devices for all business and first class fliers.
Sadly, economy fliers will have to make do without for their transatlantic journey.
Etihad flies from its Abu Dhabi hub to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
The ban forbids any electronics bigger than a cellphone from the cabin on US-bound flights from Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
The UK also followed with its own ban, but targeting a slightly different set of departure airports leading to searching questions of the real reason for the ban.
International Air Transport Association director general Alexandre de Juniac slammed the ban as highly ineffective and it will harm airline business.
"The current measures are not an acceptable long-term solution to whatever threat they are trying to mitigate. Even in the short term it is difficult to understand their effectiveness,” de Juniac said.
"The commercial distortions they create are severe. We call on governments to work with the industry to find a way to keep flying secure without separating passengers from their personal electronics.”
He said member airlines and passenger groups are asking valid questions why US and not the UK has targeted Gulf carriers Etihad, Qatar and Emirates.
The introduction of the ban was ‘woefully lacking’ de Juniac said.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026