Emirates Airlines announced plans to resume a restricted number of passenger flights on April 6. Chairman and Chief Executive of the airline Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum shared the news on Twitter on April 2.
Al Maktoum said “the flights will initially carry travellers outbound from the UAE” only, as well as freight. Freight flights have been allowed to keep flying while passenger flights are grounded.
“Over time, Emirates looks forward to the gradual resumption of passenger services in line with lifting of travel and operational restrictions, including assurance of health measures to safeguard our people & customers. Their safety & well-being will always be our top priority,” said Al Maktoum, who is also the President of Dubai’s Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports.
Emirates has received approval from UAE authorities to start flying a limited number of passenger flights. From 06 April, these flights will initially carry travellers outbound from the UAE. Details will be announced soon. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/fnhLxQanIM
— HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (@HHAhmedBinSaeed) April 2, 2020
The United Arab Emirates suspended international flights, including transit through the global air-transport hub, for two weeks from March 25 to April 8 in an attempt to curb the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Emirati carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines were forced to shut-down their passenger operations.
At the time, the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, (NCEMA), and the General Civil Aviation Authority, (GCAA) said the decision was open to re-assessment, hinting at an earlier resumption of air travel.
On April 1, the UAE Ministry of Health said the country has diagnosed 150 more cases of COVID-19, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 814. The death toll from COVID-19 now stands at eight, after two men aged 62 and 78 suffering from chronic health conditions succumbed to the disease yesterday.
آخر الإحصائيات حول إصابات فيروس كورونا المستجد (كوفيد 19) في الإمارات
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The latest update of Coronavirus (Covid 19) in the UAE#خلك_في_البيت#ملتزمون_يا_وطن#فيروس_كورونا_المستجد #كوفيد19#وزارة_الصحة_ووقاية_المجتمع_الإمارات#stayhome#coronavirus#covid19#mohap_uae pic.twitter.com/4IYe6VGFnL— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع الإماراتية – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) April 1, 2020