Coronavirus: Bookings now open for Emirates and Etihad repatriation flights
04 April, 2020
Airlines in the UAE have opened bookings for special passenger repatriation services to choose destinations, with the first flight set to depart from Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Emirates announced on Thursday that it had received approval to fly passengers outbound from the UAE to choose destinations across Europe. In addition, it plans to repatriate stranded UAE nationals for free.
The Dubai airline has opened booking for outgoing flights, which will operate from Dubai International to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and Zurich.
The first available flight from Dubai to London Heathrow will depart from the UAE on Tuesday, April 7. Tickets could be booked via Emirates and one-way fares begin from Dh2,500 in economy class.
Economy fares from Dh2,500
Economy fares to all or any destinations contained in Emirates' special services are currently priced from Dh2,500, one-way. No business class fares could possibly be found at this time around.
Flights are scheduled to Zurich and Brussels on Tuesday, April 7, and also to Frankfurt and Paris from Wednesday, April 8.
You will see four flights per week to London Heathrow, and three flights a week to the other cities.
Travellers keen to fly on these services have to meet strict regulations. All travellers should check their eligibility before booking flights. This is often done via updated information from The International Air Transport Association.
Terminal 2 departures at DXB
For these special services, Emirates will operate flights from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport, not from the airline's usual hub at Emirates Terminal 3.
Passengers can also expect a modified in-flight service without magazines or newspapers, and food and beverages presented in a manner that reduces contact between crew members and passengers.
Emirates’ lounge and chauffeur drive services for business class passengers are also temporarily unavailable during this period.
From Abu Dhabi, Etihad will continue the special passenger flights that it's been operating under government approvals through the closure of UAE airspace.
The national airline has recently flown travellers from the UAE to the United States, Australia and Sri Lanka. Etihad said it'll begin a regular service to a number of key destinations from Sunday, April 5.
The first flight scheduled to leave Abu Dhabi AIRPORT TERMINAL within these regular services will be to Seoul Incheon on Sunday, April 5.
Economy fares are not available on this service at the moment. One-way business class fares can be found on Etihad's website from Dh9,937. During writing there were only four seats remaining.
One-way to Manila from Dh1,359
On Tuesday, April 7, Etihad will fly to Singapore and booking happens to be open on the airline's website. One-way fares begin from Dh1,674.
Economy fares on Etihad's upcoming flight to Manila on Wednesday, April 8 can be found from Dh1,359 for a one-way ticket.
On Thursday, April 9, Etihad will fly to Bangkok with one-way economy fares from Dh1,664, and Jakarta, where prices start from Dh1,719.
Flights to Amsterdam are also set to be scheduled in the near future but online bookings are not yet on the Etihad website. This function will open when the airline has secured government approval for every single flight.
Free repatriation for UAE nationals with Emirates
On Friday, April 3, Emirates announced plans to repatriate any stranded UAE nationals cost-free.
"With the beginning of limited passenger services from Dubai in a few days, Emirates provides UAE nationals home for free on all flights," the airline tweeted. "UAE nationals currently stranded overseas can contact their closest UAE embassy for assistance. Emirates stands with the UAE."
Passenger and transit flights still suspended
The General Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that despite the special services set to be made available from Etihad and Emirates, regular passenger and transit flights are still suspended.
Etihad's website confirms that standard passenger flights are suspended until Tuesday, April 21.
Emirates and Etihad's special services provides cargo into the UAE and allow select passengers to come back with their home countries.
On Thursday, the united states extended its suspension of entry for UAE residency visa holders for another fourteen days.
Residents were banned from re-entering the Emirates two weeks ago in a bid to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
Source: www.thenational.ae
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