LONDON/SYDNEY (UK/AUSTRALIA) – From Friday, Britain will shut down the world’s busiest global airline route from Dubai to London.
The government said it was adding the UAE to the coronavirus travel ban list, which also includes Burundi and Rwanda. This comes amid heightened worries over the spread of a more infectious and potentially vaccine-resistant COVID-19 strain first identified in South Africa.
“This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for ten days at home,” Transport Minister Grant Shapps tweeted on Thursday.
On their websites, Emirates and Etihad Airways said they would suspend all UK passenger flights from 1300 GMT on Friday.
In a statement, Dubai airport advised passengers booked on flights slated to arrive in Britain after the ban kicks in to not to go to the airport and instead contact their airline.
The transport department has advised British nationals residing in the UAE to make use of indirect commercial airline routes in case they wish to return home.
Following the closure of frontiers due to the pandemic spread, Dubai to London international route was the busiest this month with 190,365 scheduled seats over January, according to airline data provider OAG.
Airlines such as Emirates and Etihad usually carry a large number of passengers who take connecting flights, to destinations such as Australia through their airport hubs. So cancellation of those flights will have far-reaching implications.
The Australian government announced more charter flights from Britain if necessary.