Repeat destination? 🏝️ Traveling for merch? Lost, damaged? Tell us What you're owed ✈️
TODAY IN THE SKY
Emirates Airline

Emirates: 'Who needs tablets and laptops anyway?'

Ben Mutzabaugh
USA TODAY

Middle East carrier Emirates wasted little time in reacting to the airline electronics ban enacted by the U.S., reaching out to customers Tuesday afternoon with a playful social ad playing up the carrier’s in-flight entertainment.

Emirates’ spokeswoman Jennifer Aniston stars in the spot, which begins with text asking: “Who needs tablets and laptops anyway?”

The video continues with Aniston sitting in Emirates’ coach-class section showing the airline’s in-flight entertainment to two children.

TODAY IN THE SKYIs Emirates targeting U.S. airlines with new Jennifer Aniston ad? (October 2015) | Emirates to add non-stop Newark-Athens flights

“This thing has so many games and so many movies. It’s crazy,” Aniston says while appearing to show the kids how the system works.

The spot plays under a header reading, “Let us entertain you.” It ends with Emirates touting its in-flight entertainment with the words: “Over 2,500 channels of the latest movies, box sets, live sports and kids TV.”

Dubai-based Emirates, of course, is one of the carriers likely to feel the most significant effects of the U.S. electronics ban that was announced Tuesday.

What fliers need to know about the airline laptop ban

TODAY IN THE SKYEmirates shows off its Airbus A380 superjumbo at Washington Dulles (story continues below)

The move “indefinitely” bans personal electronics larger than cellphones from being brought as carry-ons into the cabins of U.S.-bound flights from 10 international airports in eight countries in Africa, the Middle East and Turkey.

The policy will affect about 50 flights a day to the U.S., a large number of which are operated by Emirates. The carrier flies to flies to 12 U.S. airports, offering multiple daily flights on some routes.

As for Emirates ad making light of the ban, it drew a heavy response on social media. Some lauded the airline for having a “positive attitude” in light of what surely will be a difficult restriction for it to navigate.

Others responded by actually answering the ad’s question, offering responses such as, “business travelers do!”

TWITTER: You can follow Today in the Sky editor Ben Mutzabaugh at twitter.com/TodayInTheSky

IN PICTURES: 30 cool aviation photos

This screenshot shows an online ad rolled out March 21, 2017, after a new electronics ban appeared likely to affect the carrier's flights.
Featured Weekly Ad