Muslim ban forces UAE airlines to change US-bound crew

The Dubai-based carrier - renowned for being a long-haul airliner - told Reuters on Sunday that it has made "the necessary adjustments to our crewing, to comply with the latest requirements".

Trump's ban also applies to pilots and flight attendants originally from the countries mentioned in the executive order - although flight crews who are non-American citizens already require special permits to enter the US.

An Emirates spokesman told Reuters the ban has had minimal impact on the airline's operations.

The carrier employs around 4,000 pilots and over 23,000 cabin crew members from around the world, including the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways said it too has "taken steps to ensure there will be no issues for flights departing over the coming weeks", according to Reuters.

There remains plenty of confusion over the ban, which has left many stranded in US airports since it came into force on Friday.

It remains unclear whether restrictions apply to dual nations, who hold passport from a country on the list and another from a country not on the list.

Etihad - one of the first airliners to conform with the ban - said dual nationals may travel to the US using their non-banned passport.

But US State Department officials said non-US dual nationals were banned and will be detained at the airport, according to the Guardian.

Trump's US travel ban applies to refugees and non-US citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The Emirates and Etihad, which are state owned by US-ally UAE, said they will fully comply with the new rules.

Both airliners have refused to sell tickets or allow travellers from the banned countries to board their US-bound flights.