The United Kingdom has decided to ban direct passenger flights to UK from United Arab Emirates (UAE) from today (Friday), the busiest airline route, Dubai to London.
UK said it has added the UAE, Burundi and Rwanda to its coronavirus travel ban list because of worries over the spread of a more contagious and potentially vaccine-resistant Covid-19 variant first identified in South Africa.
Transport Minister Grant Shapps of UK tweeted,
“This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish and third-country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for ten days at home.”
From tomorrow (Friday 29 Jan at 1pm), we’re extending our travel ban with the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda all added to the UK's red list. 1/3
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 28, 2021
This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for ten days at HOME. 2/3
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 28, 2021
On its website, Emirates said it would suspend all UK passenger flights from 1300 GMT, when the ban takes effect. Etihad Airways said it would only suspend flights to UK, with those from Britain remaining unaffected.
In a statement, Dubai airport advised those booked on flights due to arrive in Britain after the ban not to go to the airport and instead contact their airline.
UK’s transport department advised nationals now in the UAE to use indirect commercial routes to fly back to Britain.
OAG said border closures caused by Covid-19 made Dubai to London, the world’s busiest international route in January, with 190,365 scheduled seats over the month.
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