COVID-19: UAE announces opening of airports

Ahmed bin Saeed: More destinations with the possibility to continue traveling through Dubai. Travel is returning to the Emirates airports.

The National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management announced yesterday that the UAE has taken a new step towards the gradual return to normal life by authorizing some of the country's airports to transport and transfer passengers (transit flights) from international airports.

She added that the national carriers during the coming days will announce the details and developments of procedures related to their activities, and a comprehensive framework and guidelines have been put in place to implement the required measures in all the country's airports and national carriers, to ensure the safety of the traveler’s flight.

She explained that the decision to suspend passenger flights to and from the country is still in effect, and only specific flights will be temporarily allowed for the purpose of evacuating residents and visitors who wish to leave the country and return to their country, provided that all precautionary measures are applied.

The authority said that the decision to open the airports for transit flights includes three airports, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and through national carriers such as Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlines, and flydubai, and Air Arabia, which will, within days, announce details and developments of procedures related to their activities.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President of Dubai Airports, Supreme President and CEO of Emirates Airlines and the group, expressed the Group's welcome to reopening the country's airports for transit flights.

His Highness said on Twitter: “We welcome the decision of the government of the United Arab Emirates to reopen airports for transit traffic. Emirates Airlines and flydubai will announce the resumption of passenger services to more destinations with the possibility of continuing to travel through Dubai.

Air Arabia also praised the decision. It will continue to coordinate closely with the relevant authorities to take appropriate steps to operate the flights.

Sharjah Airport announced its full readiness for re-employment, and Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah International Airport Authority, welcomed the decision and considered it a step in the right direction and comes within the policy of gradual economic openness that the state has committed to.

He said that the decision heralds additional steps that will soon reach fully open to flights from all over the world and the return of activity to the travel and tourism movement, and the Sharjah Airport Authority, have taken all necessary steps and preparations necessary for this return, both in terms of operational and organizational procedures that ensure the smooth and smooth movement in The airport, or in terms of health and preventive measures and measures that ensure the health and safety of travelers and employees. He expected airlines to start resuming their flights to some destinations that witness a high demand for travel to and from Sharjah.

Abu Dhabi International Airport announced its willingness to receive travelers with a safe travel experience that guarantees them comfort and safety from the point of entry to the airport until departure.

The airport said, through its page on the social networking site «Twitter», that he had set 6 guidelines for safe travel that include the arrival of travelers at a maximum of 4 hours before the time of their flight, wearing masks and gloves all the time and practicing social distance of 2 meters at all times and checking with the airlines about Quick checks and observing curfew dates. Allow entry to the airport terminal for ticket-carrying travelers only.

The suspension of passenger flights to and from the country remains in effect, and only specific flights are allowed temporarily to evacuate residents and visitors who wish to leave the country and return to their country, according to the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority.

Etihad Airways Group expected to resume operating its regular flights starting from the beginning of next July, based on the lifting of travel restrictions imposed, with the carrier ready to operate its international flight schedule to and from Abu Dhabi. The airline will increase the number of private flights during the month of June, which it operates from Abu Dhabi to a number of major destinations around the world, which currently number 19 destinations. The airline also operates a number of one-way trips to Abu Dhabi from 17 destinations to help citizens and residents return to the Emirates.