Etihad, Qatar Air to offer loaner laptops to customers

Bloomberg

Etihad Airways will distribute loaner laptops to premium customers on US-bound flights, joining Gulf rival Qatar Airways in providing a workaround after the federal government banned passengers from bringing their own devices into aircraft cabins.
The specially purchased computers will be available to business-class travelers starting next week, Qatar Air said. People must hand over their own laptops at the gate for storage in the hold. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad said earlier on its website that it will hand out Apple Inc. iPads to its premium guests.
“We truly appreciate the importance of being able to work on board our aircraft,” CEO Akbar Al Baker said in a statement.
“By providing this laptop-loan service we can ensure that our passengers on flights to the US can continue to work,” Al Baker added.
Passengers with Emirates can use their own devices up until boarding, whereas Qatar Air has previously required them to be relinquished at the security barrier and Etihad has urged people to pack them into checked luggage before leaving their point of origin if transiting Abu Dhabi for the U.S.
In addition to the loaner option, Qatar will offer all its U.S.-bound passengers one hour of complimentary Wi-Fi. Access for the duration of the flight will cost $5. Etihad will meanwhile hand premium clients vouchers
providing free connectivity throughout, with the
service, it said.