Coronavirus: Emirates to deploy chartered flights to Russia during air suspension

Only Russian nationals will be able to board from Dubai

Cleaning staff boarding an Emirates Airbus A380-800. AFP

Emirates is to deploy a number of special flights between the UAE and Russia in the coming days to repatriate citizens of both countries.

The Dubai airline is temporarily suspending its operations between the two countries from March 20 to June 30 amid the coronavirus outbreak.

It will consequently operate selected charter flights to Moscow and St Petersburg "to facilitate the return of travellers whose journeys were disrupted".

Emirates said in a statement: "Only Russian nationals will be allowed to travel on these special flights from Dubai to Moscow and St Petersburg and the return Emirates flights will only be open to non-Russian nationals." (see the flight schedule below)

Bookings for these flights can be carried out through travel agents or a local Emirates office, the carrier said.

An abra driver wears protective gloves and a face mask in Dubai. Getty Images

A sign showing how to prevent infection is seen in Dubai. Getty Images

One of the staff member stands inside a Dhow Cruise which is closed as a preventive measure in Deira. Pawan Singh / The National

An empty restaurant is pictured outside Dubai Mall. Reuters

A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Italian flag and "We are with you" message as a sign of solidarity with Italy. AFP

A view shows the Dubai mall almost empty of customers, as precaution amid the outbreak of coronavirus, in Dubai. Reuters

An empty beach in Dubai. EPA

People walk past shops in Dubai's Deira Souk on on March 15, 2020. AFP

Workers clean outside the Louvre Abu Dhabi on March 15, 2020. EPA

A man wearing a protective mask walks down the street in Dubai on March 16, 2020. AFP

A near-empty tourist boat crosses Dubai's marina on March 16, 2020. AFP

A man wears a protective mask at the shopping mall in Dubai. Reuters

A school gate is closed with a chain and lock in Dubai. AFP

Commuters wear protective masks on the metro in Dubai, March 12. Reuters

An attendant wears a protective face mask while using a fuel pump at an Eppco gas station in Dubai on March 10. Bloomberg

A member of cleaning staff disinfects a seat screen of an Emirates Airbus A380 on March 5. Reuters

A worker with a face mask disembarks from a bus at the Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal area on March 5. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters, some wearing protective face masks, ride the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

A trader walks by beneath a stock display board at the Dubai Stock Exchange in the UAE on March 8. AFP

A traveller wears a mask at the Dubai International Airport on March 8. Reuters

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, speaks on a mobile phone while riding the metro in Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, walks in Downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk in downtown Dubai, on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk after exiting a metro station in downtown Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing protective face mask, walks through a metro station in downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters wearing protective face masks use smartphones on the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

UAE landmarks were lit up for in solidarity with China’s efforts to contain coronavirus, Covid-19 in March. Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to accelerate, according to officials. Wam

Travel around the world has been severely restricted in recent days as countries step up measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, which has so far claimed more 9,000 lives.

The UAE announced on Thursday that all non-Emiratis will be suspended from entering the country for a period of two weeks, effectively closing the country's borders except to citizens.

Travellers who enter the UAE must undergo 14 days of mandatory self-quarantine or risk legal action.

UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 27 new cases on Thursday, taking the total in the country to 140. It added that five more patients had recovered bringing the total to 31.

Emirates had suspended services to 55 of its 145 destinations around the world, as of March 19 to comply with travel restrictions introduced.

The destinations include the likes of Madrid, Barcelona, New York, Rome and Riyadh.

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Emirates to Russia flight schedule

Applicable to 20 – 29 March 2020 only:

• Dubai to Moscow: EK133 departs at 9.15am and arrives at 1.45pm.
• Moscow to Dubai: EK134 departs at 5pm and arrives at 11.15pm

Applicable to 20 March 2020 only:

• Dubai to Moscow: EK 131 departs at 4.15pm and arrives at 8.40pm.
• Moscow to Dubai: EK 132 departs at 11.50pm and arrives at 6.15am.

Applicable to 20 - 25 March and 27 – 29 March 2020, only:

• Dubai to St. Petersburg: EK 175 departs at 3.30pm and arrives at 8.45pm.
• St. Petersburg to Dubai: EK 176 departs at 11.25pm and arrives at 6.35am