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Suspension of flights from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka extended until July 15: Emirates

Dubai - Passengers who have connected through these countries in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel to the UAE.

Published: Mon 5 Jul 2021, 3:01 AM

  • By
  • Waheed Abbas

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Emirates airline extended flight suspensions from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka until July 15, 2021, in line with the UAE government's directives to contain new variants of the coronavirus.

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The Dubai-based carrier said passengers who have connected through Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka in the last 14 days would not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE.

However, the UAE nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with updated Covid‑19 protocols are exempted from the travel restrictions.

Last week, Emirates had announced that flights from Pakistan to Dubai would remain suspended "until further notice." The UAE had first announced the suspension of entry for travellers from Pakistan on national and foreign flights from May 12.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in the UAE has maintained that the inbound passenger traffic from countries in the Subcontinent will remain suspended until further notice.

However, cargo flights between the UAE and the Indian Subcontinent countries will continue to operate without interruption.

Meanwhile, the UAE's other national carrier Etihad Airways last week also announced the extension of passenger flights suspension from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka till July 21, 2021.

In addition to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Emirates has also suspended flights to Saudi Arabia, India, Nigeria, South Africa and Vietnam.

Many UAE residents are currently stranded in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka following the flights' suspensions.

"I have been stuck in Pakistan for the past two months. I went on annual leave to see my family. But then the flights were suspended. I fear my job loss, and my savings are also depleting fast. I request authorities to resume flights for those who have been vaccinated in the UAE," says Hassan Shoukat.



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