Airlines in previously banned countries allowing travelers to board planes for the U.S.

WASHINGTON – The Middle East’s biggest airline has joined its smaller Gulf rivals in confirming passengers from seven previously banned countries would be allowed to travel to the United States.

Dubai-based Emirates said in a statement Saturday that under the direction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen holding valid visas or green cards could fly to the U.S. It says all refugees with visas would also be allowed to fly.

It cautioned that “entry requirements to the U.S. may change, and Emirates will continue to comply with guidance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”

Emirates offers daily flights from Dubai to several U.S. cities. Its rivals Qatar Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways issued similar guidance to passengers earlier Saturday.

Travelers jam terminal in Baghdad

An Iraqi official at Baghdad international airport said the travel terminal was particularly crowded Saturday following news that U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban on Iraqis and six other majority Muslim nations was blocked by a federal judge’s ruling.

Haider al-Rubaie, an official with the state-run Iraqi airways said flights from Baghdad to Dubai, Istanbul and Cairo were booked solid Saturday afternoon. While there are no direct flights to the US from Baghdad, al-Rubaie said many of the passengers were holding transit tickets to the US.

Iraqi member of parliament Ibrahim Bahr Uloom praised the U.S. judge who ruled against Trump’s ban and admonished the Iraqi leaders who were unable to achieve the same ends through diplomatic channels.

“The U.S. justice system is better than Iraqi diplomacy,” he said. “Today we thank the American judiciary.”