UAE carriers Emirates, Etihad suspend flights to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has suspended flights to and from Saudi Arabia, beginning December 21 until December 27.

“Due to the closure of borders as directed by the Saudi authorities, Emirates will be suspending flights to and from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia until December 27,” a company spokesperson told Gulf Business.

“We regret any inconvenience caused. Affected customers should contact their travel agent or the Emirates contact centre for rebooking options,” the spokesperson added.

It has also halted flights to Kuwait and Oman from December 22-28, it announced on its website.

In a similar move, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has also suspended flights to Kuwait City, Oman’s Muscat and Saudi Arabian cities of Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh ‘until further notice’, according to its website.

These moves come in the aftermath of Saudi Arabia’s suspension of all international flights for one week, with the possibility of extension for another week, on fear of the spread of a new coronavirus strain in parts of the world.

International flights already in the kingdom will be allowed to leave.

Read: Saudi suspends all international flights, closes land and sea ports over new virus strain

A new strain of the virus has been identified in the UK, with country’s government warning that the fast-spreading strain was “out of control”.

Several countries including parts of Europe, Canada and Turkey temporarily suspended flights to the UK on Sunday.