With coronavirus being declared as a pandemic by WHO earlier this month, Gulf countries started imposing restrictive measures including the air transport sector. Dubai-state owned airline carrier Emirates took a pivotal move to cut its flights to combat the spread of coronavirus, as per the United Arab Emirates government directive, for two weeks. To help alleviate the financial losses, Dubai crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed had assured to support the airlines.
Emirates would initially carry passengers outbound from the United Arab Emirates and as the travel confidence returns. The executive director of operations at Emirates Adel Al Rida said “the airline will initially operate flights to European countries like Zurich, London, Paris, Brussels, and Frankfurt.”
In the light of Covid-19, there have been 814 cases in UAE along with 8 deaths so far. As and when situations improve many air companies plan on reinstating their services.