Emirates CEO says US laptop carry-on ban still puzzles him

The chairman and CEO of Dubai's long-haul carrier Emirates said Tuesday he "can't dig into somebody's mind" to understand why the US instituted a ban on laptops and other personal electronics in carry-on luggage from 10 cities in Muslim-majority countries. However, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said he believes US President Donald Trump is a businessman who "wouldn't want to affect American business" in his decisions. Sheikh Ahmed's careful phrasing mirrored that of his rival, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker, the day before at the Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai. The exhibition last year featured a stand by the luxury hotel chain bearing the new American president's name, but this year the company apparently decided not to take part. Sheikh Ahmed didn't mince words, however, when describing what he thought after watching the video of a United Express passenger being forced off a flight. "Those people who dealt with it, they should be more professional," he said. "That is something that should not be acceptable." Sheikh Ahmed also acknowledged the challenges facing the global aviation industry, saying Emirates was considering so-called premium economy seats, planned on launching a new first-class "product" this year and was looking at other measures. <br/>