Emirates Extends Ban on Flights from Bangladesh till July 28

Dubai-based airline Emirates has extended the ban on flights from Bangladesh, and three of its South Asian neighbours — India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — until July 28.

The decision was taken in line with the United Arab Emirates government directives, the airline said on its website, reports media.

This is the latest extension of a travel ban on flights from the South Asian countries as Covid-19 infections surge around the planet due to the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus.

Emirates said passengers who have connected through India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE.

UAE nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with updated Covid 19 protocols, are exempt and may be accepted for travel, said the flag carrier of the gulf nation.

Earlier, the UAE extended an ongoing ban on flights from 16 countries, including Bangladesh, till August 1.

The restrictions are applicable on all types of visas which means people from these countries will have to wait longer to travel to the UAE, said the country's General Civil Aviation Authority.