Emirates airline extends restrictions covering South Africa and Nigeria flights

Travel from South Africa remains banned until July 6, while flights to and from Nigeria are cancelled until further notice

Pupils from Herbert Macaulay Girls Senior High School wear face masks to protect against coronavirus in Lagos Nigeria. Public and private schools resumed in-person classes on August 4 after months of closure. Sunday Alamba / AP

Pupils from Birrel Avenue Senior High School Yaba wear face masks to protect against coronavirus in Lagos Nigeria. Sunday Alamba / AP

A woman wears a protective face mask at the Murtala Mohammed International airport in Lagos, Nigeria, in March. Temilade Adelaja / Reuters

Muslims pray in a mosque for the first time in months in Lagos. Places of worship were closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but reopened in early August. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

A woman has her temperature checked on entry to Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa in Lagos, on August 7. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

A man wash hands with sanitiser as he arrives at a mosque in Lagos on August 7. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

Worshippers wear face masks as they attend a mass following the reopening of churches and lifting of restrictions on religious gatherings in Lagos, on August 9. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

Worshippers wear face masks as they attend mass outside the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

A woman washes her hands outside church. Bans on religious gatherings lifted across Nigeria in early August. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

A woman wears a face mask and sanitises her hands before entering the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

Flights from South Africa will remain suspended until July 6, Emirates airline has said.

Daily passenger flights to Johannesburg will operate but outbound services remain suspended.

In addition, passengers who have been to, or connected through, South Africa in the previous 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound for Dubai.

The decision was "in line with government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from South Africa, into the UAE," the airline said.

All Nigeria flights off

Passengers will also not be allowed to travel to, or from, Nigeria until further notice.

People travelling to and from Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted for travel, nor customers who have been to, or connected through, the west African country in the past 14 days.

Flights between the UAE and Nigeria were first halted in March after a strain that was markedly more resistant to vaccines, similar to the South Africa strain, was detected.

India flights still back on

On Saturday, Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster management said airlines were given the go-ahead to fly between India, Nigeria and South Africa from June 23.

Emirates said it would set out India flights soon, while Indian carriers were expected to put out flight details and tickets imminently.

Passengers from India will require a valid UAE visa to travel and must also have had both doses of a UAE approved Covid-19 vaccine.

They must also take a PCR test on arrival and agree to "institutional quarantine" until they receive the result.

South Africa battles Covid-19 surge - in pictures

A traveller is tested at the Grasmere Toll Plaza in Lenasia, South Africa. Reuters

City of Tshwane's Special Infection Unit paramedics and a doctor load a man showing symptoms of Covid-19 into an isolation chamber in the north of Pretoria, South Africa. AFP

A normally busy interchange on the M2 east highway is seen devoid of vehicles during national lockdown in South Africa. EPA

A volunteer sprays disinfectant during a deep cleaning operation inside the Villa Liza Clinic, in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. AFP

A woman wearing a mask crosses a waterlogged street after rainfall in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. AP Photo

Empty buildings during lockdown in Sandton, South Africa. EPA

A City of Tshwane's Special Infection Unit paramedic closes the door of an ambulance in the north of Pretoria, South Africa. AFP

A health worker wears protective clothing as she prepares to test travellers at the Grasmere Toll Plaza, in Lenasia, South Africa. Reuters

An empty garage with no vehicles or staff during lockdown in South Africa. EPA