DUBAI: Emirates resumed its flight operations from Pakistan, operating flights from Karachi and Lahore to Dubai. The first scheduled flight from Islamabad will take off on Thursday. The resumption comes after over two months of travel restrictions imposed globally due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Emirates is operating 14 weekly flights to Dubai, including seven from Karachi, five from Lahore and two from Islamabad using its modern Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
“We are extremely pleased to resume services successfully from Pakistan, and thank the authorities for the arrangements and their assistance. Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the traveller’s journey to ensure the health and safety of customers and employees at all touchpoints. Our customers travelling with us will find these measures reassuring and comforting,” Emirates Vice President Pakistan Mohammad Sarhan said.
Social distancing measures will be applied and baggage will be disinfected at all three airports. The boarding sequence has been staggered in Economy Class and passengers will board by row, from the last row to the first, in small numbers.
All cabin crew onboard will also be fully kitted out in PPEs and they will hand out hygiene travel kits that contain masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes and a sanitiser to every passenger.
Comfort items such as mattresses, pillows, blankets and headphones will be hygienically sealed by the airline and hot meals will be served with high-quality cutlery and crockery, sterilised before each use. Cabin service assistants will also ensure toilets are cleaned at frequent intervals of every 45 minutes. Toilets are equipped with sanitising soap and handwashing instructions.
Customers transiting through Dubai International Airport and boarding another Emirates flight will go through thermal screening after disembarkation. Transfer desks at the airport will also have protective barriers and for extra assistance, airport staff dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE), will direct customers from a safe distance.
The airline is currently flying from Karachi daily, from Islamabad on Thursdays and Saturdays and from Lahore on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
