DUBAI: The UAE’s premier airliner Emirates has suspended flights from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to Dubai till July 15, in line with its government’s orders, according to a statement.
“In line with UAE government directives, Emirates will be suspending the carriage of passengers from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Dubai until July 15, 2021,” read a statement issued by the airline.
Emirates also said that passengers who have connected through the three countries in the last 14 days would not be allowed to travel with the airline from any point to the UAE. The airline said that people who had already booked their tickets could keep them for a future flight or rebook to another date.
“UAE Nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with updated COVID‑19 protocols are exempt and may be accepted for travel,” the statement added.
Last month, the UAE extended the ban on flights from Pakistan and 13 other countries till July 21, citing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued in this regard. In the notification, the federal aviation authority said that exceptions would be granted to cargo flights, as well as business and charter flights.
Emirates is one of the airlines that have recently been issued a warning by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over inconvenience caused to passengers by the “sudden cancellation of flights”.
Presuming ease of travel restrictions by the authorities, some airlines had scheduled extra flights to Pakistan and made bookings as well but then cancelled those flights after the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) maintained travel curbs.
The CAA said it had taken “serious notice” against Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Fly Dubai for “causing inconvenience to passengers by flight cancellations in recent weeks”.
