DUBAI: A ban on most carry-on electronics on flights to the United States will not significantly affect passenger numbers at Dubai International, where flights depart to 12 US cities daily, the airport’s chief executive said on Thursday.
The US announced on Tuesday new restrictions on flights from airports in eight Muslim-majority countries, including the United Arab Emirates, affecting international airline Emirates which flies from Dubai. The restrictions apply to any device larger than a mobile phone, according to US officials, such as a laptop, tablet and portable DVD player.
Industry experts say the ban starting this Saturday could see business travelers who use laptops to work during flights switch to unaffected carriers.
“If we are very, very diligent in both communicating exactly what the restrictions are and actually have an efficient process to deal with the situation, I don’t suggest it will have an impact on numbers,” Dubai Airports Chief Executive Paul Griffiths told DubaiEye radio, adding that a “very tiny proportion” may choose to switch airlines.
Dubai International, the world’s busiest international airport, is targeting 89 million passengers this year.
Emirates, the only airline to fly direct to the US from Dubai International, will allow passengers to hand over their devices as they board, allowing them to continue to use the gadgets until the last possible moment and minimize disruption, President Tim Clark told Reuters on Wednesday.
Clark, who called the ban disruptive, said the airline was “closely monitoring the business impact of this new security measure, and we will decide on our strategies and interventions accordingly.”
The UK followed suit with a similar ban on Tuesday that does not include the UAE.
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Dubai airport chief says electronics ban will have minimal impact on passenger numbers
Dubai airport chief says electronics ban will have minimal impact on passenger numbers
Drones hit fuel tank at Oman port: state media
Muscat, Oman: Drones targeted an Omani port on Tuesday, hitting a fuel tank, state media said, as Iran presses its campaign against the Gulf in response to US and Israeli strikes.
“A security source reported that fuel tanks at the commercial port of Duqm were targeted by a number of drones, one of which hit a fuel tank. The resulting damage was contained without any human casualties,” the Oman News Agency said.
The attack is the second on the port in three days, as Iran broadens its targets in the Gulf.
Oman, which played a mediation role in talks between the US and Iran, has called for a ceasefire in the war.
On Sunday a worker was injured when two drones struck the same port. One hit accommodation for workers, while debris from the other landed near fuel tanks, the Oman News Agency said.
They were the first attacks on the sultanate since war broke out, with Oman facing strikes despite acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States just days prior to the conflict.
On Monday one person was killed in an attack on an oil tanker off the coast of the capital Muscat that caused an explosion and fire, authorities said.
The blast in the vessel’s main engine room killed one crew member, an Indian national.
“A security source reported that fuel tanks at the commercial port of Duqm were targeted by a number of drones, one of which hit a fuel tank. The resulting damage was contained without any human casualties,” the Oman News Agency said.
The attack is the second on the port in three days, as Iran broadens its targets in the Gulf.
Oman, which played a mediation role in talks between the US and Iran, has called for a ceasefire in the war.
On Sunday a worker was injured when two drones struck the same port. One hit accommodation for workers, while debris from the other landed near fuel tanks, the Oman News Agency said.
They were the first attacks on the sultanate since war broke out, with Oman facing strikes despite acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States just days prior to the conflict.
On Monday one person was killed in an attack on an oil tanker off the coast of the capital Muscat that caused an explosion and fire, authorities said.
The blast in the vessel’s main engine room killed one crew member, an Indian national.
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