The UAE has said it will suspend all passenger and transit flights for the next two weeks.
According to Arabian Business, Emirati authorities “have decided to suspend all inbound and outbound passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the UAE for two weeks as part of the precautionary measures taken to curb the spread of the Covid-19”, reported the official state news agency, WAM.
It said the decision would be subject to review in two weeks. It will take effect in 48 hours. Cargo and emergency flights will be exempt.
The decision came just hours after Emirates announced it would suspend all flights by March 25th. Then it said that it had “received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers” and will continue to operate passenger flights to 13 destinations.”
Emirates said it would continue to operate flights to 13 destinations; however that is no longer the case.
“We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services,” said the airline’s chairman and CEO, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.
According to Al-Maktoum, this year Emirates has been “doing well” against current financial year targets, but “COVID-19 has brought all that to a sudden and painful halt over the past six weeks”.
“The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” he said.
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