Emirates is set to resume limited passenger flights from May 21, the Dubai-based airline has announced.
Regular passenger flights will resume between Dubai and 9 cities; London Heathrow Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne later this month. Additionally, Emirates will offer connections in Dubai for customers travelling between the UK and Australia.
All flights can be booked via emirates.com, although passengers wishing to travel on the flights must comply with the eligibility and entry criteria requirements of their destination countries. For those wishing to return to Dubai, approval from the Federal Authority for Identify and Citizenship (ICA) is required.
Repatriation flights will continue to operate from Dubai to help those stranded in the UAE return home. This week, the airline plans to operate repatriation flights from Dubai to Tokyo Narita on May 15 and Conakry and Dakar on May 16. From Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways also continues to offer repatriation flights to Abu Dhabi to bring UAE residents home, and from Abu Dhabi to help travellers return to their home countries.
“We are pleased to resume scheduled passenger services to these destinations, providing more options for customers to travel from the UAE to these cities, and also between the UK and Australia,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ COO. “We are working closely with the authorities to plan the resumption of operations to additional destinations. We have implemented additional measures at the airport in coordination with the relevant authorities in respect to social distancing and sanitization. The safety and wellbeing of our employees, customers and communities, remain our top priority.”
Emirates also detailed the enhanced safety measures it has implemented in preparation for the resumption of flights.
At Dubai International Airport (DXB), customers and employees will have their temperatures checked via thermal scanners, and gloves and masks have been made mandatory for all entering the airport.
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Protective barriers have been installed at check-in counters to provide additional safety during check-in and Emirates’ cabin crew, boarding agents and ground staff who interact directly with travellers will don personal protective equipment (PPE) including a protective disposable gown and safety visor.
In-flight services have also been modified, so that cabin baggage must be checked in, with passengers able to bring only essential items such as a laptops, handbags, briefcases or baby items on board.
Source: Conde Nast Traveller