India is facing the worst ever since the pandemic broke out. Flights from India have been cancelled by countries across the world and the UAE has also announced a ban on flights. Amidst the chaos, several UAE expats are stuck in India, with no way out to come back to their second home. However, those with a UAE Golden visa are allowed to travel. Two families from Kochi, both with a Golden visa had the privilege to be the only ones to fly in a 360-seater Emirates aircraft. Read on to know more!
Also read: Emirates Airline Suspends India-UAE Flights Until 30 June
The Passengers Received A Royal Treatment & Were Allowed To Sit Anywhere In The Flight
As per an article carried on Khaleej Times, a 360-seater Emirates plane was occupied by just six individuals from two different families. The flight took off from Kochi on Sunday at 4 am India time and landed in Dubai at 6 am UAE time. Among the travellers was Younus Hassan, chairman and managing director of Al Irshad Computers. He had a golden visa, which permitted him and his family to fly back to the UAE.
Yunus’ wife Hafsa and his children Nihla Yunus, Nujum Yunus, Mohammad Hilal and Mohammad Hani Hamdan received the Golden Visa under his sponsorship. The family spent AED 9,000 (Rs 1.80 lakh) on tickets. The family was elated that Emirates gave them a warm welcome and they were also allowed to sit anywhere in the flight, including business class seats.
“We each had an air hostess to handle our affairs. They accompanied us up to the terminal and helped us take the Covid test as well. Normally, you should stand in the queue at the emigration counter. However, after asking us to sit down, the air hostess took our passports and completed the emigration process,” Nihla told Madhyamam.
Hafsa, a member from the other family that was onboard said they found it difficult to reach Nedumbassery Airport from her native Nadapuram. Although the journey normally takes only seven hours, it took them 12 hours to reach the airport, due to the triple lockdown situation in Kerala. The family said they were grateful to the UAE government for issuing them a Golden Visa.
Well, this is not the first time Emirates passengers with a golden visa are enjoying a royal flight. Recently, Bhavesh Javeri, a 40-year-old flyer, was the only passenger on the Mumbai-Dubai EK-501 Emirates flight. He paid only AED 909 (Rs. 18,000) for the ticket, and as luck had it, he got the plane all to himself. Click here for the full story.
