LEADING international airline, Emirates, has suspended
flights from Harare to Lusaka and then Dubai and back from 20 March to 20 May
as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement, Emirates said the move was in response to
the prevailing global conditions following the outbreak of Covid-19, which has
spread across the globe and has so far killed more than 8 000 people.
The pandemic has disrupted trade and international
exhibitions and business engagements. Most countries have effected travel
restrictions as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Flights from Harare to Lusaka and then Dubai (EK714) and
flights from Dubai to Lusaka and then Harare (EK713) will be cancelled
effective 20th March up to 20 May 2020. Our last flights to and from Harare are
on 19 March,” it said.
Meanwhile, Emirates said it has implemented enhanced
cleaning and complete disinfection of all cabins as a precaution on all
aircraft departing from its hub in Dubai.
“In line with the latest expert medical finding that the
Covid-19 virus is primarily transmitted by touch, Emirates placed its focus on
surface cleaning. On any aircraft that was found to have transported a
suspected or confirmed Covid-19 case, Emirates would go even further and
implement deep cleaning and disinfection in a process that takes between six to
eight hours to complete. This includes the defogging of cabin interiors and
misting with disinfectant across all soft furnishings and replacement of seat
covers and cushions in the affected area,” said Emirates.
Meanwhile, South African Airways (SAA) said yesterday that
it had cancelled 162 international and regional flights until the end of this
month due to low demand and restrictions linked to the Coronavirus.
SAA is under a form of bankruptcy protection and battling for
its survival. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced travel bans
affecting several countries where SAA flies, including the United States,
Britain and Germany.
“The effects of the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19)
have led to travel disruptions and restrictions across the world, leading to
the grounding of aircraft, releasing employees and cancelling flights for many
airlines. SAA is not immune to these realities,” it said in a statement.
The airline said it reviewed its flight schedule and
decided to operate flights under circumstances and business considerations that
will require scheduling of flights. “Notwithstanding the decline in demand, SAA
continues to aggressively review its schedule to match capacity with demand to
the extent possible. Where feasible, we will consider options that include
cancelling and merging flights,” said SAA chief commercial officer, Philip
Saunders.
For the period 17 until 31 March 2020, SAA has cancelled a
total of 162 flights. Of these, 38 are international and 124 are regional
(destinations on the African continent) flights.
“Our priority is to assist those travellers wishing to
repatriate to their home countries to do so as quickly and efficiently as
possible. Naturally, this includes South African citizens abroad wishing to
return home,” Saunders said.
Subject to the conditions set out in the travel ban
announced by government in South Africa, SAA will also facilitate the transfer
of qualifying passengers to or from the destinations it flies to, which have
been classified as high-risk areas. – Reuters-The Citizen
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