Emirates resume flights to Australia

                                                                                 File Photo

Emirates is resuming conditional passenger flights to Australia after the pandemic forced the airline to slash its services. From next Thursday, the United Arab Emirates carrier will fly to Sydney and Melbourne as well as London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago and Toronto.
Emirates will also offer travelers flying between the UK and Australia a 'seamless' Dubai connection. The majority of flights to Dubai will only be open to citizens and residents with approval to return to the emirate. The move comes just days after Middle East based rival Etihad announced it was resuming flights between Australia and London. (Qatar Airways is returning to Brisbane scheduling three flights per week beginning on the 20th May as it continues to bring Australians home during the coronavirus pandemic.)

EMIRATES A380-861 A6-EDA (CN 011)                 File Photo

In preparation for the restarting of flights, Emirates says it has improved health and hygiene measures for customers. These include temperature checks using thermal scanners at Dubai airport and protective screens at check-in counters. And cabin crew, boarding agents and ground staff who have close contact with passengers will wear personal protective equipment (PPE). The airline also stressed it will carefully monitor social distancing with signage at waiting areas of the airport

EMIRATES B777-31H A6-ECK (CN 35584)         File Photo

Emirates is also changing its in-flight service to reduce contact and infection risk. Magazines and printed reading material will not be available and cabin baggage will have to be checked in. Travellers can only take essential items on board such as a laptop, handbag, briefcase or items for babies. Adel Al Redha, Emirates' chief operating officer, said: 'We are pleased to resume scheduled passenger services to these destinations, providing more options for customers to travel from the UAE to these cities, and also between the UK and Australia. 'We are working closely with the authorities to plan the resumption of operations to additional destinations."

(Etihad Airways has also announced it would begin offering Melbourne-London flights from Friday the 15th May , and London-Melbourne via Abu Dhabi flights from the 21st May.)

Story sourced from here
https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-emirates-resumes-australia-flights-stresses-covid-19-safety-for-travellers/cad838e2-a761-4076-a5b0-7e2dc36ca3d7