COVID-19: Emirates resumes outbound regular flight operation from Pakistan

Dubai: Emirates has resumed limited regular flight operation from Pakistan to Dubai after a gap of more than two and half months.

Emirates is operating 14 weekly flights to Dubai, including seven from Karachi, five from Lahore and two from Islamabad, using its modern Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, according to an airline statement issued to media in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Emirates is the first international airline to resume flight operation from Pakistan after the country opened the airports for ‘outbound’ international flights. Ban on international incoming regular passenger flights is still in place while only special flights are allowed to take stranded Pakistanis to the country.

Emirates will operate its first scheduled flight from Islamabad on June 11. The international flight operations in Pakistan had remained suspended since March 21 amid travel restrictions imposed globally due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Only oubound flights

Emirates, however, clarified that it is operation only ‘outbound’ flights from Pakistan to help stranded UAE residents to fly back to the UAE. The airline will also facilitate Pakistani passengers who wish to connect onwards to other Emirates destinations. UAE residents stranded in Pakistan can travel on these flights after following the registration procedure earlier announced by the UAE government. Passengers can book tickets on Economy and Business Class from Pakistan.

Safety measures

Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates Vice President to Pakistan, said: “We are extremely pleased to resume services successfully from Pakistan, and thank the authorities for the arrangements and their assistance.

“Emirates have implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the traveller’s journey to ensure the health and safety of customers and employees at all touchpoints. Our customers travelling with us will find these measures reassuring and comforting.”

The statement also said that social distancing measures would be applied and baggage would be disinfected at all three airports. The boarding sequence has been staggered in Economy Class and passengers’ board by row, from the last row to the first, in small numbers.

Thermal screening

Customers transiting through Dubai International Airport and boarding another Emirates flight go through thermal screening after disembarkation. Transfer desks at the airport have protective barriers and for extra assistance, airport staff dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE), direct customers from a safe distance.

Emirates international flights

Early this week, Emirates also announced to resume limited regular passenger flight operation to various destinations across the world including: Kabul, Bahrain, London Heathrow, Manchester, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, New York JFK, Chicago, Toronto, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Hong Kong, Perth and Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Manila.

Customers can book to fly between destinations in the Asia Pacific and Europe or the Americas, with a convenient connection in Dubai, as long as they meet travel and immigration entry requirements of their destination country.