Covid-19: Emirates announces flight restrictions over Omicron concerns

Dubai airline Emirates has announced flights restrictions to destinations worldwide over new developments related to the concerning spread of the Covid-19 variant Omicron.

UAE

On Saturday, the carrier confirmed that as directed by the Dubai Covid‑19 Command and Control Centre (CCC), all travellers originating from or transiting via seven African countries will not be accepted for travel into Dubai with effect from Monday, November 29 until further notice. The countries include: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Passengers who have been to or connected through the countries in the last 14 days will also not be accepted on any Emirates flights.

The airline also announced that effective November 27 it is temporarily suspending passenger operations to and from South Africa (Johannesburg, Durban Cape Town), Zimbabwe (Harare) and Zambia (Lusaka).

Read: Covid-19: UAE to ban entry from seven countries over Omicron concerns

SINGAPORE

Emirates also confirmed that Singapore will not allow entry or transit/transfer to passengers who have a travel history (including transit) within the last 14 days before departure for Singapore from the following countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

This includes long‑term pass holders, short‑term visitors and all those who had obtained prior approval for entry into Singapore.

Singapore citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the decision, which took effect on Saturday, November 27.

UK

The UK has also added the following countries to its travel red list effective November 26: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Passengers who have been in these countries or territories in the 10 days before arriving in the UK will not be allowed to enter unless they are a British or Irish national or have residence rights in the UK.

The decision does not apply to passengers who have stayed airside and only transited through any of these countries while changing flights.

Passengers arriving in England from the six countries from 4am on Sunday, November 28 will be required to book and pay for a government‑approved hotel quarantine facility for 10 days.

Meanwhile passengers arriving in Scotland from 4am Saturday, November 27 will be required to book and pay for a government‑approved hotel quarantine facility for 10 days.

Emirates stressed that affected customers can hold on to tickets and when flights resume, get in touch with their travel agent or booking office to make new travel plans.