The Emirates suspends entry from Afghanistan and Indonesia
The UAE will suspend entry for travellers from Afghanistan and Indonesia from tonight, in the latest round of coronavirus restrictions.
The General Civil Aviation Authority said the decision would take effect at 11.59pm.
It includes suspending the entry of passengers who were in these countries 14 days before coming to the UAE. Official delegations, UAE citizens and UAE residents who carry a golden visa are among those exempted but they must undertake a 10-day quarantine.
Transit flights bound for the two countries will not be affected. Cases have risen sharply in Afghanistan as well as in Indonesia, where the number of new daily cases has increased from about 3,000 in May to 38,000 on Thursday. The flight restrictions are the latest imposed by the UAE to halt the spread of coronavirus cases.
Meanwhile, airlines have begun to allow the booking of seats on flights after July 15, which is the deadline set for a review of the situation in several countries. The list of countries with travel restrictions in place includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Nigeria and the Philippines.
Travel agents gave warnings that although seats may be available, no decision has been made about lifting flight restrictions.
The UAE reported 1,520 new coronavirus cases yesterday, increasing the total to 648,702. Seven people died, raising the death toll to 1,860, while there were 1,468 recoveries, taking the total to 626,800.
Several airlines have opened up bookings on flights from India to the UAE this week but travel agents have said current restrictions could be extended on Thursday.
Flights from Thursday onwards are available on Indian airline Vistara, and from Friday with Emirates and flydubai.
The UAE imposed restrictions on passengers from India in late April, when the Delta variant swept through Indian cities and the number of new cases hit 300,000 a day.
The government later expanded this to include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Last week, Emirates extended the ban on passenger flights from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, along with South Africa and Nigeria, until July 15, based on instructions from the authorities.
Inbound flights from Pakistan are not displaying, but flights from Sri Lanka are available from July 16 on Emirates and from July 27 on flydubai’s website.
Etihad extended its suspension of services from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh until July 21.
The UAE authorities have extended the ban on inbound flights several times, as they continue to review the coronavirus situation in these countries.
Dinesh Uttwani, a travel agent at Musafir.com, said passengers can now make bookings – but that does not guarantee restrictions will be lifted.
“The opening of bookings does not mean that the ban would be removed by then,” he said.
“People can make the bookings if they wish, but it would only be guaranteed once the authorities announce officially that the ban has been removed.”
Sitti Abdul Qaadir, a travel agent at Tabeer Tours, also told passengers about possible ban extensions, despite seat availability.
“It is not guaranteed that flight restrictions would be lifted by then,” she said.
Current regulations in place state that passengers who transited through these countries in the past 14 days will not be allowed to travel to the UAE from any other point.
Emirati citizens, holders of UAE golden visas and diplomats who comply with updated Covid-19 protocols are exempt from these rules.
Yesterday, the UAE’s aviation authority said it would suspend the entry of passengers from Afghanistan and Indonesia, two countries that have experienced a surge in cases in recent weeks, from 11.59pm today. The General Civil Aviation Authority and the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management said transit flights bound for the two countries could continue.
In Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, the number of new daily cases has risen dramatically from about 3,000 in May to 38,000 on Thursday. Hospitals face a serious shortage of oxygen, officials said on Friday.