DUBAI: Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, said Wednesday that it will reduce flights to the United States after tightened visa and security measures under President Donald Trump hit demand.
The Dubai-based airline said that it would cut services to five US cities – Los Angeles, Boston, Orlando, Seattle and Fort Lauderdale – starting from next month.
“This is a commercial decision in response to weakened travel demand to the US,” a spokesperson for the carrier said in a statement.”The recent actions taken by the US government relating to the issuance of entry visas heightened security vetting, and restrictions on electronic devices in aircraft cabins, have had a direct impact on consumer interest and demand for air travel into the US.”
Travellers have expressed frustration at a carry-on ban on large electronic devices that took effect last month on US-bound flights mostly from the Middle East and North Africa. It followed an attempt by Trump to impose a travel ban on refugees and on travellers from six Muslim-majority nations.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways in a statement published on Wednesday by the official WAM news agency said demand for its 45 flights a week to the US “remains strong”.
