The chief sponsor of legislation to prevent US customs agents from clearing passengers at Abu Dhabi's airport is backing off after receiving assurances that American carriers will directly benefit from such deals in the future.

Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., has told Al-Monitor that he's no longer pushing legislative language to block US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from preclearing US-bound travelers at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The House Homeland Security subpanel on Border and Maritime Security removed all reference to the UAE facility when it marked up Meehan's bill last week, despite concerns that the deal only benefits Abu Dhabi's government-owned Etihad Airlines.

"I think we're OK with the changes," Meehan told Al-Monitor after the markup. "The bill would still require that there be a justification for the determination, and I think it would still protect the United States airlines from being disadvantaged by state-sponsored airlines."

Meehan's original bill, which garnered 150 cosponsors, explicitely sought to cancel the deal with Abu Dhabi. It also targeted ongoing negotiations with Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, Dubai International Airport and Doha International Airport in Qatar.