The Abu Dhabi airline has come up with a plan to help business travellers following the electronics ban.

Etihad Airways has announced it will offer free wi-fi and iPads to US-bound business class and first class passengers in response to the electronics ban.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline said the devices would be provided on request, and free wi-fi would be available for the duration of the flight.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has banned passengers in eight Muslim-majority countries – including the UAE – from bringing large electronic devices into plane cabins, citing terrorist concerns.

The ban, which came into effect on Saturday, includes laptops, tablets, cameras, electronic game devices, e-readers and portable DVD players.

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Etihad says US-bound passengers travelling via Abu Dhabi are encouraged to pack their large electronic devices into their checked baggage.

However, you can also get your banned devices packed into specially provided secure cases before undergoing screening at the US pre-clearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport (the only one of its kind in the Middle East).

The devices will be stored in the aircraft’s cargo hold, and can be collected on arrival in the US.

WHAT ABOUT DUBAI?

Dubai-based airline Emirates, who was also hit by the ban, said last week it was formulating a similar system that would let passengers take their laptops past security gates at Dubai International.

An Emirates team would then collect the banned items at the boarding point, and store them in the cargo hold.

Emirates president Tim Clark said in an interview with Bloomberg TV the airline was exploring other “creative” ways to work around the ban if it remained in place for the long term, which possibly included loaning passengers government-approved laptops to be used during the flight.

At this point, the ban is valid until October 14.