Dubai’s Emirates says will resume services ‘as soon as conditions allow’

Dubai’s Emirates will resume operations “as soon as conditions allow”, the airline said in an update on its website on Wednesday.

While certain media reports claimed the airline has grounded all flights until July, an airline spokesperson clarified to Gulf Business that the timeline for resuming operations completely depends on how the crisis evolves.

A report by aviation route site Routes Online stated that Emirates had recently updated its summer 2020 operations, with most routes expected to resume operations from Wednesday, July 1.

But the airline said Covid-19 flight and travel restrictions remain in place across many countries around the world.

“We are closely monitoring the situation as it evolves, and we hope to resume services as soon as conditions allow,” it said.

“This includes receiving government approvals, the easing of travel restrictions, and commercial demand. We will announce any service resumption when we are in a position to do so.”

Emirates suspended “most of its flights” on March 25, after the UAE temporarily halted all passenger flights from the country as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

However, along with local airlines including Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia, it has now started operating repatriation flights to select destinations.

Current flights are operating from Dubai to: London Heathrow (four times weekly), Frankfurt (thrice-weekly), Madrid (April 26) and Manila (April 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30).

Earlier this month, Emirates also announced that it will operate special passenger services to Jakarta, Manila, Taipei, Chicago, Tunis, Algeria and Kabul.

Read: Emirates announces passenger flights to more cities

The airline is implementing strict measures on the routes that it is currently operating.

All cabin crew, boarding agents and ground staff, who come in direct contact with passengers, will now wear personal protective equipment (PPE), Emirates announced on Tuesday.

Read: Emirates staff to wear protective gear amid Covid-19 concerns

Last week, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said it intends to operate a select network of scheduled passenger services from May 1 to June 30, with the aim to return to a fuller schedule.

The move is subject to the UAE government lifting its restrictions on passenger travel.

Read: Etihad to commence limited passenger services from May 1