EMIRATES BEGINS SPECIAL FLIGHTS TO EUROPE
A health worker checks the body temperature of Emirates passengers bound for Frankfurt at Dubai International Airport on Monday. Emirates earlier this week received approvals to commence special flights to the European cities of London, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and Zurich.
Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates resumed select passenger flights after suspension, with the first flight taking off from dubai international on Monday morning and landing in Frankfurt in the afternoon.
Flights to the other two scheduled destinations - heathrow London and Zurich - were cancelled. The flights are operating from dubai international’s Terminal 2.
Emirates earlier this week received approvals to commence special flights from april 6 from dubai to five European cities of London, Frankfurt, Paris, brussels and Zurich. Four flights a week are to London heathrow, and three to the other cities.
along with outbound passengers from the uaE, the flights also carried belly-hold cargo in both directions, supporting trade and communities with the transport of essential goods.
however, it was not revealed how many passengers were onboard the first flight. Thousands of passengers from different countries who wish to go back home are currently in the uaE.
Sheikh ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group, earlier said that these initial passenger services are limited to travellers who meet the entry requirements set by the destination countries.
“While we hope to resume full operations as soon as possible, we acknowledge the challenges faced by many cities in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak. Our network can only be restored with the easing of travel restrictions, and we maintain close contact with all authorities for latest updates,” Sheikh ahmed said.
as per the uaE government’s directive, Emirates temporarily suspended all passenger services from March 25, 2020. but it continued to operate cargo flights. as global airlines are struggling to float due to the grounding of fleets amidst massive downturn, dubai government assured full support and announced injecting equity into to local carrier.
as of September 30, Emirates’ global network spanned 158 destinations in 84 countries. its fleet stood at 267 aircraft including freighters.