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.
