Emirates to resume passenger flights from May 21 to nine destinations and link the UK with Australia

Emirates has announced that it will resume passenger flights to nine destinations from next week.

The Dubai-based carrier says it will fly to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne from Thursday, May 21.

The airline says it will also offer a ‘seamless’ connection in Dubai for passengers travelling between the UK and Australia.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has announced it will resume passenger flights to nine destinations from May 21

Emirates will only accept passengers on to these flights if they ‘comply with the eligibility and entry criteria requirements of their destination countries’. This includes approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) for UAE residents who wish to return to Dubai.

In preparation for the restarting of flights, the airline says it has ‘enhanced various precautionary measures throughout the customer journey’.

For example, at Dubai International Airport, customers and employees will have their temperatures checked via thermal scanners.

Protective barriers have been installed at check-in counters to ‘provide additional safety during interaction’ and gloves and masks are mandatory for all customers and employees at the airport.

In addition, Emirates’ cabin crew, boarding agents and ground staff who interact directly with travellers will don personal protective equipment (PPE) including a protective disposable gown and safety visor.

The airline says that social distancing protocols will also be implemented with ‘physical indicators being placed on the ground and at waiting areas in the airport to ensure travellers maintain a safe distance’.

Emirates says it will fly to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne

Emirates says it will fly to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne

On board, there will be a modified in-flight service that the airline says ‘focuses on reducing contact and infection risk’.

Magazines and printed reading material will not be available and cabin baggage will have to be checked in.

Customers can only take essential items on board such as a laptop, handbag, briefcase or items for babies.

The airline explained: ‘Emirates has initiated a stringent safety programme to ensure aircraft cabins remain clean and sanitary.

‘The airline’s modern aircraft cabins have been fitted with advanced HEPA air filters which remove 99.97 per cent of viruses and eliminate dust, allergens and germs from cabin air for a healthier and safer on-board environment.

‘After its journey and on landing in Dubai, each aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes to ensure safety and proper sanitation.’

In addition to the scheduled services, Emirates says it will also continue to work closely with embassies and consulates to facilitate repatriation flights for visitors and residents wishing to return home.

On board, there will be a modified in-flight service that Emirates says 'focuses on reducing contact and infection risk'. Pictured is the economy cabin on an Emirates A380

On board, there will be a modified in-flight service that Emirates says ‘focuses on reducing contact and infection risk’. Pictured is the economy cabin on an Emirates A380 

This week, the airline plans to operate flights from Dubai to Tokyo Narita (May 15), Conakry (May 16), and Dakar (May 16).

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ chief operating officer, said: ‘We are pleased to resume scheduled passenger services to these destinations, providing more options for customers to travel from the UAE to these cities, and also between the UK and Australia.

‘We are working closely with the authorities to plan the resumption of operations to additional destinations.

‘We have implemented additional measures at the airport in coordination with the relevant authorities in respect to social distancing and sanitization. The safety and well-being of our employees, customers and communities, remain our top priority.’

Yesterday, Ryanair announced that 40 per cent of its normal flight schedules will be restored from July 1, making 90 per cent of its route network active again.

Irish carrier Ryanair said it hopes to introduce a daily schedule of almost 1,000 flights from July 1

Irish carrier Ryanair said it hopes to introduce a daily schedule of almost 1,000 flights from July 1 

It said it hopes to introduce a daily flight schedule of almost 1,000 flights, compared to the current 30. The Irish budget carrier said that all crew will wear face masks/coverings in-flight and that passengers will have to follow suit.

However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday that ‘summer was cancelled’.

A new ‘Healthy Flying’ notice on the Ryanair homepage tells passengers to check-in online, download boarding passes to their smartphones and ‘wear a face mask/covering at all times, both in the airport and onboard your flight’.

It also encourages fliers to check their temperature before travelling.

‘It may be checked again at the airport,’ the site says. ‘If you do not pass this, you will be asked to return home.’

Meanwhile on Monday, the head of the owner of British Airways said the company would need to review its plans to resume flights after the Prime Minister proposed quarantining people flying into the UK.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA's parent company, International Airlines Group, said  the company would need to review its plans to resume flights after the Prime Minister proposed quarantining people flying into the UK

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA’s parent company, International Airlines Group, said  the company would need to review its plans to resume flights after the Prime Minister proposed quarantining people flying into the UK

In an address to the nation on Sunday, Boris Johnson said it would ‘soon be the time’ to bring in a quarantine period for air passengers to stave off Covid-19 infections from abroad.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA’s parent company, International Airlines Group, said there was ‘nothing positive’ in the address.

Giving evidence to the Commons Transport Select Committee about the demand for air travel, Mr Walsh said: ‘The announcements yesterday of a 14-day period (for people) coming into the UK, it’s definitely going to make it worse.

‘There’s nothing positive in anything that I heard the Prime Minister say yesterday.

‘We had been planning to resume – on a pretty significant basis – our flying in July. I think we’d have to review that based on what the Prime Minister said yesterday.’

VIRGIN ATLANTIC ANNOUNCES 2021 FLIGHT PROGRAMME FOLLOWING GATWICK CLOSURE

Virgin Atlantic has announced its programme for summer 2021 following the closure of its Gatwick base.

The airline will operate flights from Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast.

It expects to ‘steadily increase’ flights in the second half of this year, before a ‘further, gradual recovery’ in 2021.

Virgin Atlantic will fly to 24 destinations next summer, using only twin-engine aircraft.

The Heathrow to Tel Aviv service will increase to twice per day.

The airline announced last week that it will not resume Gatwick flights, will reduce its workforce by 3,150 people and will not return to using its seven Boeing 747-400 aircraft, which have four engines. 

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