Highlights
- Airline states it will still operate passenger flights to UK, Switzerland, HK, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, USA & Canada.
- Emirates will also retain cargo operations
- dnata will significantly reduce operations, including temporary closure of operations at some international locations where demand is low
- Group will implement basic salary reduction for majority of employees for three months, but will not cut jobs
- Supports government measures to safeguard community health
Dubai: Emirates Group announced on Sunday that it will temporarily suspend most passenger operations by March 25.
The airline said it will retain cargo operations.
Dnata announced it significantly reduced operations, including temporary closure of operations at some international locations where demand is low.
The airline has aimed to maintain passenger flights for as long as feasible to help travellers return home amidst an increasing number of travel bans, restrictions, and country lockdowns across the world.
It continues to maintain vital international air cargo links for economies and communities, deploying its fleet of 777 freighters for the transport of essential goods including medical supplies across the world.
With many of its airline customers dramatically reducing flights or ceasing services altogether, dnata has also significantly reduced its operations, including temporarily shutting some offices across its international network.
"As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended most of its passenger operations. We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services."
Having received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers, Emirates will continue to operate passenger and cargo flights to the following countries until further notice, as long as borders remain open, and there is demand: the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, USA, and Canada. The situation remains dynamic, and travellers can check flight status on emirates.com.
No job cuts
The group is implementing basic salary reduction for majority of employees for three months, will not cut jobs. However, the airline has outlined a number of cost reduction measures.
"Rather than ask employees to leave the business, we chose to implement a temporary basic salary cut as we want to protect our workforce and keep our talented and skilled people, as much as possible.
"We want to avoid cutting jobs. When demand picks up again, we also want to be able to quickly ramp up and resume services for our customers" said Sheikh Ahmed
“Emirates Group has a strong balance sheet, and substantial cash liquidity, and we can, and will, with appropriate and timely action, survive through a prolonged period of reduced flight schedules, so that we are adequately prepared for the return to normality,” said Sheikh Ahmed.
Safeguarding all stakeholders
Emirates Group said it closely monitors the situation and keeps in regular contact with all relevant authorities, so that it can implement the latest guidance to keep travellers and its employees safe and healthy.
The company has strongly discouraged its employees from non-essential travel, implemented work from home policies for all employees where operationally feasible, enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols at its facilities, introduced temperature screening at its key office entry points, and launched internal educational campaigns on hand hygiene and health practices to reduce risk of COVID-19.
Over the past weeks, the airline has also implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures on all of its aircraft departing Dubai as a precaution, and worked closely with airports to implement screening measures as required by the local authorities.
Frontline employees such as crew and airport teams have also been provided with support to stay safe while on duty, including providing hand sanitizers and masks where required.
• Postponing or cancelling discretionary expenditure
• A freeze on all non-essential recruitment and consultancy work
• Working with suppliers to find cost savings and efficiency
• Encouraging employees to take paid or unpaid leave in light of reduced flying capacity
• A temporary reduction of basic salary for the majority of Emirates Group employees for three months, ranging from 25% to 50%.
Employees will continue to be paid their other allowances during this time. Junior level employees will be exempt from basic salary reduction
Presidents of Emirates and dnata – Sir Tim Clark and Gary Chapman – will take a 100% basic salary cut for three months
On the decision to reduce basic salary, Sheikh Ahmed said: “Rather than ask employees to leave the business, we chose to implement a temporary basic salary cut as we want to protect our workforce and keep our talented and skilled people, as much as possible. We want to avoid cutting jobs. When demand picks up again, we also want to be able to quickly ramp up and resume services for our customers.
