Coronavirus: Emirates announces repatriation flights to five Indian cities

Services will operate until the end of the month and will help travellers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic

Stranded Indian passengers who arrived by an Air India flight from Singapore wait for transport. EPA

Indian nationals in Oman wearing face masks get their body temperatures checked at a terminal in Muscat International Airport. AFP

A man wearing latex gloves and a mask checks airline tickets and travel documents in Muscat. AFP

Medical staff collect a sample from an Indian citizen flown home from Dubai by Air India flight at the Chennai International Airport in southern Tamil Nadu state. AFP

Indian citizens queue at Kuwait International Airport before boarding a repatriation flight to India. AFP

Stranded Indian passengers who arrived by an Air India flight from Singapore wait to come out of the terminal. EPA

A security personnel wearing protective gear stands guard as he waits for Indian citizens flown home from Dubai by Air India flight to arrive at the Chennai International Airport in southern Tamil Nadu state. AFP

Indian citizens flown home from Dubai by Air India flight arrive at the Chennai International Airport in southern Tamil Nadu state. AFP

Pavan Kapoor, India’s ambassador to the UAE, says the leaders of both nations have been in regular contact throughout the pandemic. Indian Embassy, Abu Dhabi

Emirates airline is to operate repatriation flights to five Indian destinations until the end of the month as part of ongoing efforts to help people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The airline said it would run services to Bengaluru, Kochi, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram from Thursday until August 31.

The flights will help Indian citizens in the UAE who wish to return home and also bring UAE residents in India back to the Emirates.

More than 200,000 Indians have been repatriated from the UAE since May 7 as part of a co-ordinated effort between the two nations after most flights were grounded in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Around 10,000 UAE residents were believed to have travelled back to the Emirates as of last month.

Emirates will operate repatriation flights to India on the following dates:

• Bengaluru: 21, 23, 25, 28, and 30 August
• Kochi: 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31 August
• New Delhi: daily flights until 31 August
• Mumbai: daily flights until 31 August
• Thiruvananthapuram: 26 August
• Flights from Kochi to Dubai will operate on 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 August and 1 September.
• Flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai will operate on 27 August.

All flights will be operated with the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER and can be booked on emirates.com or via travel agents.

Passengers must meet all the entry requirements of the destination to be allowed to board the flights.

More information on flight schedules is available here.

Flights from Dubai to India

Only Indian citizens stranded in the UAE will be allowed to fly from Dubai to the five Indian destinations.

Flights from India to Dubai

Flights will be available for UAE nationals and residents with prior entry approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs for residents of Dubai.

The airline stated travellers must take PCR tests prior to travelling to Dubai.