Qatar Airways has responded to the ban on large electronics on flights from some countries to the US by announcing it will offer passengers a laptop loan service.
The Doha-based airline has bought laptops for loan on all its US flights, to be collected from the gate before boarding, free of charge.
Passengers are advised to take their work on USB drives which can be used to transfer data onto the laptops and access Wi-Fi on board.
Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “We truly appreciate the importance of being able to work on board our aircraft. By providing this laptop loan service we can ensure that our passengers on flights to the US can continue to work whilst on-board.”
Qatar Airways’ announcement follows Emirates’ reaction to the ban and moves by travel insurance providers to make sure policies cover electronics in the hold.
“Whilst other airlines have relied on their existing on board offering to comfort passengers we have not rested until we could offer a true solution to our passengers,” said Al Baker. “Our constant innovation and ability to react to changes in the industry is something I am very proud of.”