Emirates announces passenger flights to more cities

Dubai airline Emirates is planning to operate passenger services to Jakarta, Manila, Taipei, Chicago, Tunis, Algeria and Kabul, it announced on Monday.

The services will facilitate residents and visitors wishing to return home, a statement said.

The new routes will add to the airline’s ongoing operations to London and Frankfurt.

Only citizens of the destination country and those who meet the entry requirements will be allowed to board.

Passengers will also be required to comply with each country’s requirement, the airline stressed.

Tickets can be booked directly on the Emirates website or via travel agents.

“With the increase of services and flights out of Dubai, Emirates has recommenced its operation at Dubai International airport Terminal 3,” the statement said.

Read: Dubai’s Emirates to fly from Terminal 3 from April 12

During this time, there will be no online check in and seat selection available and services such as chauffeur drive and lounge will not be available in any of the destinations.

Emirates will also offer amended services on the flights. Magazines and other print reading material will not be available, and while food and beverages will continue to be offered on board, packaging and presentation will be modified to reduce contact during meal service and the risk of infection, the airline said.

Cabin baggage will not be accepted on the flights.

Carry-on items allowed in the cabin will be limited to laptop, handbag, briefcase or baby items. All other items have to be checked in, and Emirates will add the cabin baggage allowance to customers’ check-in baggage allowance.

Passengers are required to apply social distancing guidelines during their journey and wear their own masks when at the airport and on board the aircraft.

Travellers should arrive at Dubai International airport Terminal 3 for check-in three hours before departure.

The check-in counters will only process passengers holding confirmed bookings to the destinations.

All Emirates aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes in Dubai, after each journey, the statement added.

Read: Dubai’s Emirates says tickets to be valid for 24 months

The UAE government announced on March 25 that it was temporarily suspending all passenger flights from the country as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

However,  local airlines including Etihad Airways, Emirates and flydubai have now started operating repatriation flights to select destinations.

On Monday, Etihad said it will operate flights from Abu Dhabi to Brussels, Dublin, London (Heathrow), Tokyo (Narita) and Zurich, in addition to those destinations where it is already operating exceptional passenger repatriation flights.

Read: Etihad announces new passenger flights from Abu Dhabi

On April 9, flydubai reported that it had operated 23 repatriation flights carrying more than 2,800 passengers from the UAE between March 19 and April 8, 2020.

Read: Flydubai operates 23 repatriation flights, plans up to 10 more over the next week

Flydubai said it planned to operate up to 10 more repatriation flights and continued to coordinate closely with the authorities on bringing UAE nationals home free of charge.