To add on to the limited international travel South Africans are facing, Emirates has announced the extension of their South African passenger ban to Dubai to 22 April. Flight operations between South Africa and Dubai-based Emirates were initially supposed to resume on 8 April.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has ranked South Africans the most restricted travellers in the world. According to the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa, less than half of the international airlines which operated in regular routes to South Africa have resumed operations.
The initial push-back date of the South African ban was till 15 April, but days after that announcement had been made, Emirates confirmed that the flight extension will be pushed to 22 April.
‘Emirates’ flights from South Africa will remain suspended until 22 April 2020, in line with government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from South Africa, into the UAE,’ the airline said.
However, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines continues to operate limited passenger flights from South Africa, but only if they are Dutch nationals and EU residents as outbound passengers.
KLM is currently operating a daily flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, and three flights per week from Cape Town to Amsterdam,” said a representative of the airline.
PICTURE: Unsplash
