UK-UAE travel ban: Emirates, Etihad answer top questions on flight suspension

KT file photo

Dubai - Emirates and Etihad Airways, the flag carriers of the UAE, were quick to halt operations from Friday afternoon, in line with the announcement.

Ashwani Kumar

Published: Fri 29 Jan 2021, 9:37 PM

Since the suspension of UK flights was announced on Thursday, the UAE’s primary carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways were flooded with queries from stranded passengers.

Emirates and Etihad Airways, the flag carriers of the UAE, were quick to halt operations from Friday afternoon, in line with the announcement.

“Our flights to and from the UK are suspended until further notice,” said Emirates Support, the official customer service Twitter channel for Emirates. “We regret the inconvenience caused, and affected customers should contact their booking agent or Emirates call centre for rebooking.”

Etihad, however, maintained that flights from the UK were unaffected. “All Etihad Airways flights to the UK are suspended until further notice, however flights out of the UK are still operating,” said Etihad Help, the airline’s official guest relations Twitter account.

A British national wishing to reach Dubai may fly to Abu Dhabi and then travel by road to the emirate, the carrier confirmed.

“Yes, as a British national, you should be eligible for a visa on arrival which means you can land in Abu Dhabi. You will have to transfer to Dubai via our Etihad coach, chauffeur or via the airport taxi in order to avoid the 10 days quarantine in Abu Dhabi,” Etihad Help tweeted in reply to the passenger’s query on travel, quarantine and visa norms for a UK resident.

Similarly, a person can travel from Paris to Dubai via Abu Dhabi. “You’re able to fly to Abu Dhabi if you are a UAE national or resident, or if you are eligible for a visa on arrival. There’s no quarantine required if your final destination is Dubai,” Etihad Help said.

Meanwhile, Emirates Support told a passenger seeking a return from Manchester to Dubai on February 5 that it would “check alternative route options” for a return from the UK through Europe to Dubai.

Both the airlines’ call centres have been experiencing high volume of phone calls and hence had a long waiting period. They have urged passengers to contact travel agencies to rebook their tickets, if it is issued through them.

In a statement, Etihad Airways said: “If your plans have been affected, we’ll keep your ticket open for you to book whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to contact us straight away to change your flight.”

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com