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Etihad Airways is allowing nationals from 6 Muslim-majority countries on a US travel ban list to board flights to the US if they have valid travel documents, the airline said Thursday. The US Supreme Court ruled Monday to allow part of the ban which applies to citizens and refugees from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Visa applicants from the 6 countries must have a close US family relationship or formal ties to a US entity to be admitted to the US under guidance distributed by the US State Department Wednesday. "The airline continues to accept nationals with valid travel documentation from the 6 listed countries," an Etihad Airways spokesman said. "Acceptance, as per standard procedure, is subject to checks completed by US authorities at the preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi airport.” <br/>

Emirates and Etihad Airways said they’re hopeful that tighter airport security requirements announced by the Trump administration will pave the way for the lifting of a ban on the use of laptops on flights from Mideast hubs to the US. Emirates will work with authorities to implement the measures “as soon as possible,” according to the airline. Etihad plans to consult with the US TSA to verify that the new steps will permit the termination of the moratorium, which also includes games consoles and tablets. All of the carrier’s American flights are processed through a US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facility which it says adheres to the required measures. “We will advise passengers once the new rules on personal electronic devices come into effect,” the airline said. <br/>