The UAE updated its travel ban for India, saying that all incoming flights on national and foreign carriers from India will be suspended. However, transportation of passengers from UAE to India will be allowed. Covid cases in India, are at its highest ever, and several countries across the globe have closed borders for tourists from India. And now, UAE has also banned flights from India for 10 days- starting 24 April to 4 May 2021.
Transportation Of Passengers From UAE To India Is Permitted
The UAE’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced an update on regulations with the clarification that entry from India will be suspended for all incoming flights on national and foreign carriers. The new rule will apply to those carrying transit passengers, with the exception of transit flights coming to the UAE and heading onward to India.
Flights between the two countries will continue to operate allowing the transportation of passengers from the UAE to India. The GCAA affirmed that UAE nationals, diplomatic passport holders, official delegations, business flights, and golden residence holders are exempted from this decision. However, in the event of them travelling, all passengers must follow a 10-day quarantine, undergo a PCR test at the airport as well as another test on the fourth and eighth days of entering the country. The test results will only be accepted from authorised labs which generate a QR code.
According to the decision, the period of PCR test is reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours, provided that the tests issued by accredited laboratories bearing the QR Code are accepted. This comes in response to the proactive precautionary and preventive health measures issued by all concerned authorities in the country to limit the spread of the COVID pandemic-19, the statement added.
Also read: Planning Air Travel Within India? Know The Latest State-Wise Rules
The GCAA said, “The decision to suspend flights came after studying and evaluating the epidemiological situation in the friendly Republic of India and within the framework of continuous coordination and cooperation with all relevant authorities inside and outside the country that continuously monitor developments in the situation to maintain the security and safety of civil aviation.”
The concerned authorities, under the umbrella of the NCEMA, follow up the global situation to take appropriate decisions that ensure the continuity of the work system within the country, while at the same time reducing the risk of the spread of the pandemic.
The authority called on all travellers affected by the decision to follow up and communicate with the airlines to amend and schedule their flights and to ensure their safe return to their final destinations without any delay or other obligations.
Effective 24 April 2021, Emirates flights from India to the UAE will be suspended. Furthermore, passengers who have transited through India in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE.
Also read: India Removes Restrictions On E-Visas; Permits People From 156 Countries To Enter
What Are Your Options For Cancelled Bookings?
1. Keep your ticket for future flight
2. Rebook your flight to another date
You don’t need to call Emirates customer care if you choose the ‘keep your ticket for future flights’. You can get all the information on “Keep your ticket” option here In case of rebookings, passengers must contact their travel agent or booking office.