DUBAI, 14 June 2021: Commercial airline flights between UAE
and India will remain grounded until at least 6 July, according to local media
reports in both countries.
The ban first introduced on 24 April was extended on 4 May. In the latest statements from civil aviation authorities, it has now been extended through to 6 July, when the ruling will be reviewed once more.
The first inkling that the ban would be extended came from a
tweet from Air India Express last Tuesday. It was quickly followed by a
statement from Emirates saying a flight resumption was once more paused.
The movement of passengers to the UAE from India (excluding UAE nationals) has been suspended until 6 July, according to a tweet from Air India Express on Tuesday.
The Air India Express tweeted: “General Authority of
Civil Aviation, UAE, has suspended all inbound passenger movement to the UAE
from India (excluding UAE nationals) until 6 July 2021.”
Under the ban, all travellers from India, as well as those
who had visited India during the last 14 days before their planned arrival in
the UAE, are denied entrance. UAE nationals, diplomats and holders of the UAE
golden visa could still enter the UAE but subject to quarantine requirements.
Countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, France,
Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, Oman, Saudi
Arabia, Singapore and UAE have banned travel to and from India due to the
rising infections in the country, mostly due to the highly contagious Delts
variant that originated in India.
Dubai-based carrier Emirates said passenger flights from
India to UAE would continue to be suspended until 6 July. It offered passengers
the option to keep the ticket open, rebook to another date or apply for a
refund.