Special flights to repatriate Pakistanis
dubai — Stranded Pakistanis in the UAE are expected to start returning home from next week as the UAE and Pakistani airlines will operate special flights once they receive the go-ahead signal from the governments, Khaleej
Times has learnt.
“Special passenger flights for repatriation of Pakistani nationals from the UAE will start from next week,” according to a tweet by the Consulate-General of Pakistan in Dubai on Tuesday.
Sources said Emirates, flydubai and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are ready to launch special flight operations for stranded Pakistani nationals by April 21.
“The UAE and Pakistani authorities are finalising details for special flights. We are ready to send PIA aircraft to bring back stranded Pakistanis once we get the green signal from the Pakistan government,” a source in PIA said.
He said one PIA special flight from Dubai is expected on April 18 if the government grants permission to the airline. “Final decision on PIA flight on April 18 will be taken today.”
When contacted, Emirates spokesperson said the airline has temporarily suspended its services to Pakistan.
“We aim to provide our customers with as much notice as possible should there be any changes. We are closely monitoring the situation and hope to resume services as soon as conditions allow. This includes receiving government approvals, the easing of travel restrictions and commercial demand. We will announce any service resumption when we are in a position to do so,” the spokesperson said.
A flydubai spokesperson also confirmed that the airline is committed to support the repatriation efforts of the two governments. “We are fully supporting governments and authorities across the flydubai network with their repatriation efforts, helping them make arrangements for their citizens to return home,” the spokesperson said.
Currently, more than 25,000 people have registered with the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai for repatriation while over 10,000 have been rendered jobless due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Islamabad landing only
Since the provincial governments closed their airports in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, all flights bringing Pakistanis from abroad will be landing at Islamabad International Airport, aviation sources said.
“Special flights for stranded Pakistani nationals will only be allowed to Islamabad International Airport from Dubai and initially 250 passengers per day will be able to travel back home due to limited facilities available to quarantine international passengers in the capital,” Shahid Mughal, regional manager for UAE at PIA, told Khaleej Times.
“We will increase the capacity gradually,” he said.
He added all passengers will be tested and quarantined for seven days by the government. After that, they will have to observe seven-day selfquarantine.