Emirates to cut US flights following laptop ban

Emirates plans to reduce its flights to American cities in response to lower demand, following an electronics ban imposed by the Trump administration on US-bound flights from Middle East destinations.

Starting next month, the Dubai-based carrier will scrap flights to five of the 12 American cities it currently serves, an Emirates spokesperson told Argaam in an emailed statement.

Emirates’ Fort Lauderdale and Orlando operations will move from daily services to five a week in May, while flights to Seattle and Boston will move from a twice-daily to daily service in June.

Flights to Los Angeles will also move from a twice-daily to daily service, starting July 1.

“This is a commercial decision in response to weakened travel demand to US. The recent actions taken by the US government relating to the issuance of entry visas, heightened security vetting, and restrictions on electronic devices in aircraft cabins, have had a direct impact on consumer interest and demand for air travel into the US,” the spokesperson said.

While Emirates, the world’s biggest international airline, saw healthy growth and performance in US operations until the start of 2017, the carrier has recorded “a significant deterioration” in bookings on all US routes over the past three months.

The airline will therefore redeploy capacity to serve demand on other routes, but continue to closely monitor the situation, the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said it has experienced “no significant change” in demand on flights to and from the US in recent weeks.

“Demand continues to remain strong on all 45 weekly services between Abu Dhabi and its six US gateways,” a spokesperson said, adding that the airline remains committed to the American market “regardless of recent developments.”

Last month, US President Donald Trump’s administration imposed a ban on carrying several electronic devices, including laptops, in carry-on luggage on flights coming in from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and at least six other countries in the Middle East.

The move was seen as likely to force business travelers that would have picked Gulf carriers in the past to choose American airlines in order to be able to use their electronic devices. 

Write to Jerusha Sequeira at jerusha.s@argaamnews.com