ABU DHABI/DUBAI: UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad will resume outbound flights from Sri Lanka on Saturday, June 20.
The two airlines will fly from Colombo to several cities around the world, with Sri Lanka the latest destination to be added to transfer services operated by Emirates and Etihad.
The outbound flights are designed for people to transit in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with passengers required to have onward travel booked. However, UAE nationals or residents with approval to return can also book these flights to come home. The UAE has launched an initiative to bring 200,000 residents stranded abroad for months back to the country. The travel restrictions that were imposed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic left huge numbers of residents from different nationalities who were on holiday, visiting families or conducting business trips unable to fly back to the UAE.
UAE residency visa holders who want to return to the country, must apply via the website smartservices.ica.gov.ae. The returning residents will be screened for COVID-19 and will have to quarantine for 14 days and download government approved tracking apps to monitor the spread of coronavirus.
Emirates will fly from Colombo via Dubai with connections available to several cities across Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Americas. These include London, Paris, New York, Brisbane and Bahrain. This will take the total number of Emirates destinations on offer for travellers to 40, providing more options for customers who wish to return home or those travelling for essential purposes.Travellers must make sure they meet the conditions of their destination country before booking flights.
In addition, Emirates will add flights to the following cities in July: London Heathrow, Manchester, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich, Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, New York JFK, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong. Customers can book to fly between destinations in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe or the Americas, with a convenient connection in Dubai, as long as they meet travel and immigration entry requirements of their destination country. Flight bookings can be made online at emirates.com or via travel agents. Customers can find more information about Emirates’ flights and current services at: www.emirates.com/wherewefly.
Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers. For more information on these measures and the services available on each flight, visit: www.emirates.com/yoursafety
Customers are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place, and travellers will only be accepted on flights if they comply with the eligibility and entry criteria requirements of their destination countries. Residents returning to the UAE can check the latest requirements at: www.emirates.com/returntoDubai.
Effective June 20, Etihad Airways will operate twice-weekly scheduled services for outbound passengers from Colombo to key destinations on its global network via Abu Dhabi.
EY265 will depart Colombo on Thursdays and Saturdays at 1.35am, landing in Abu Dhabi at 4.30am local time.
From Abu Dhabi, the service connects to Barcelona and Zurich on a weekly basis, and to Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris twice weekly.
These services complement Etihad’s existing schedule of flights to and from Abu Dhabi to several destinations on its global network.
Those wishing to book are advised to visit www.etihad.com/transfer to view their options, and to remain informed on the appropriate entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +91 80 3715 2312, or through a local or online travel agency.
Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19. The airline has implemented an extensive sanitisation and customer safety programme and is practicing the highest standards of hygiene at every part of the customer journey. This includes catering, aircraft and cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight, crew interaction, meal service, disembarkation and ground transportation, among others.
More information on the stringent measures being taken by Etihad Airways to provide a healthy and hygienic travel experience is available at www.etihad.com/wellness.
Both airlines require travellers to wear face masks for the duration of every flight. Food and beverage services have been reduced on Emirates and Etihad flights to cut down on interaction between passengers and crew to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Sri Lanka revealed last week that it will reopen to tourists from Saturday, August 1. Authorities announced detailed guidelines regarding coronavirus testing, social distancing and hygiene standards at hotels, resorts and tourist attractions. Other safety guidelines include mandatory face masks on flights, in airports and when travelling around the country. All travellers arriving in Sri Lanka will need to bring a valid, negative Covid-19 test that has been taken within the past 72 hours. Travellers will then be tested on arrival at the airport with results are expected within 24 hours.
The traditional Sri Lankan greeting of Ayubowan is also being promoted as the recommended way for people to greet one another, as it involves less contact than shaking hands, hugging or kissing on the cheeks.
