Gulf carrier Emirates will introduce a new service to enable customers to use their laptops and tablet devices until just before they board their flights to the US, to assuage the impact of the ban on carrying laptops onboard US-bound flights from Dubai.

Emirates customers travelling to the US via Dubai will be able to utilise their laptops and tablet devices on the first part of their journey, and also during transit in Dubai, the airline said in a statement.

The passengers must then declare and handover their laptops, tablets, and other banned electronic devices to security staff at the gate just before boarding. The devices will be carefully packed into boxes, loaded into the aircraft hold, and returned to the customer at their US destination. Passengers will not be charged for the service.

The airline, however, encouraged passengers on US-bound flights starting their journeys in Dubai to pack their electronic devices into their check-in luggage in the first instance, to avoid delays.

“Customers should be aware that there will be a detailed search of all hand baggage on non-stop flights to the US from Dubai. They should, therefore, declare their devices before the search, or ensure their electronic devices are packed into their check-in luggage in the first instance,” the airline said.

Tim Clark, President, Emirates, said: “Our historical data shows that on Emirates’ US flights, 90 per cent of passengers using our onboard mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity services do so via their smartphones. Only 6 per cent connect via laptops, and 4 per cent via tablets. That is not to say that other passengers are not using their devices offline, but perhaps the silverlining to this is that they can now justifiably give themselves a break from their devices, enjoy our onboard service and catch up on the latest movies, music, and TV box sets we have on offer.”

Emirates is working to ensure that its operations comply with the latest restrictions on electronic devices in the cabin, when the rules take effect on March 25. The airline will deploy extra staff at the airport to ease and assist passengers, especially in the first days of the new rules being implemented.

The new security directive, issued by the US Transportation Security Administration, applies to all passengers travelling on non-stop flights to the US from Dubai, including those in transit.

It does not apply to passengers travelling on Emirates’ US-bound flights via Milan and Athens, or Emirates flights to/from any other destination.