Coronavirus: UAE announces opening of airports for limited flights, including transit
UAE announced on Wednesday that airports around the country would be allowed to operate limited flights which would include only transit, repatriation of expats or return of residents or citizens.
The announcement was made during Wednesday’s coronavirus press briefing by Dr. Saif al-Dhaheri, spokesman for National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management.
“The decision to suspend passenger flights to and from the country is still in effect,” al-Dhaheri said.
Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.
He added that limited flights will be temporarily permitted for the purpose of “evacuating residents and visitors who wish to leave the UAE and return to their country.”
The airlines allowed to operate these flights are Emirates, Etihad, fly dubai and Air Arabia, and they are expected to announce flights and timings on Thursday, June 4.
"The decision includes #AbuDhabi Internationl Airport, #Dubai International Airport, & #Sharjah International Port, and covers #EtihadAirways, #Emirates, #flydubai, & #AirArabia," said Dr. Saif Juma Al Dhaheri.#WamNews https://t.co/fj59kFO8oh pic.twitter.com/wBOElLYTUC
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) June 3, 2020
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Reacting to the announcement, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ chairman and CEO welcomed the news, saying in a tweet : “We welcome the UAE authorities’ decision to re-open UAE airports for all connecting travellers. @Emirates and flydubai will shortly announce the resumption of passenger flights to more cities with connections to, and through, Dubai. @DXB”
We welcome the UAE authorities' decision to re-open UAE airports for all connecting travellers. @Emirates and flydubai will shortly announce the resumption of passenger flights to more cities with connections to, and through, Dubai. @DXB pic.twitter.com/3ZSnagAo29
— HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (@HHAhmedBinSaeed) June 3, 2020
Earlier on Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates announced one coronavirus-related death and 571 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of active cases in the Gulf state to 36,359, according to the ministry of health.
Read more:
Coronavirus recovery: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt business conditions decline slows
UAE grows rice in the desert as coronavirus supply chains worries spur innovation
Coronavirus: Emirates may take four years to resume flying to previous destinations
-
Coronavirus: Top 5 images of deserted airports, taken by UAE satellite from space
Airports sit dormant while countries across the world close their borders and halt travel to combat the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus ... Coronavirus -
Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi Airports launches UAE-made robot for COVID-19 disinfection
Abu Dhabi Airports, in partnership with Tawazun Strategic Development Fund, launched on Saturday the “CoDi BOT UGV,” an unmanned ground vehicle for ... Coronavirus -
Coronavirus: Dubai airports to sell face masks, gloves, sanitizer in vending machines
Dubai’s airports have installed vending machines stocked with face masks, gloves, and sanitizer for travelers to purchase to combat the coronavirus ... Coronavirus