Emirates airline President Tim Clark listens to a question during an interview overlooking Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The president of the Middle East's biggest airline says a ban on electronics other than mobile phones in the cabins of U.S.-bound flights came as a complete surprise as he defended security measures at its Dubai hub. (AP Photo/Adam Schreck)
The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The president of the Middle East's biggest airline is defending security measures at its Dubai hub and says the ban on electronics other than mobile phones in the cabins of U.S.-bound flights was a complete surprise to him.
Emirates airline President Tim Clark told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he only learned of the new U.S. guidelines the day before.
Clark says the government-backed carrier is now scrambling to ensure it's in compliance with the new rules by Friday evening and is working on ways to let passengers keep their devices up until boarding before securing them in cargo holds.
Emirates' Dubai hub was one of 10 mostly Middle East and North African cities affected by the new rules announced on Tuesday.
FILE - In this May 21, 2016, file photo, an EgyptAir plane flies past minarets of a mosque as it approaches Cairo International Airport, in Cairo, Egypt. A new U.S. security measure targeting flights from eight mostly Muslim countries is leading travelers to reconsider their plans to fly through some airports in the Middle East. An electronics ban affects flights from international airports to the U.S. from in Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
The Associated Press
Emirates airline President Tim Clark speaks to The Associated Press in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The president of the Middle East's biggest airline says a ban on electronics other than mobile phones in the cabins of U.S.-bound flights came as a complete surprise as he defended security measures at its Dubai hub. (AP Photo/Adam Schreck)
The Associated Press