Long-haul operator Emirates Airline is deploying additional passenger aircraft to accommodate flyers between the UAE and Saudi Arabia today, July 4, ahead of the travel ban. 

The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday that the Gulf state will suspend travel to and from the UAE, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Afghanistan amid concerns of new COVID-19 variants. The flight ban will be in effect from 11 pm today and will apply to passengers who have visited the countries within the last two weeks. 

To cater to flyers wishing to return to or leave Saudi Arabia prior to the flight ban, Emirates said it is providing additional services to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam. 

“In light of announced travel restrictions, Emirates is operating extra flights to and from [the Saudi cities] today, 4 July to support those affected get back to KSA, and enable UAE nationals and residents currently in the kingdom to safely return to the UAE,” the airline said on Twitter. 

Airlines around the world have been losing billions of dollars in revenues due to the decline in passenger traffic since the COVID-19 outbreak started last year. 

Emirates Group, the operator of Emirates Airline, posted its first loss in more than 30 years, reporting a 22.1 billion dirhams ($6 billion) deficit for the financial year ended March 31, 2021, as it grappled with a huge revenue fall caused by the health crisis. 

New restrictions 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has blamed travel restrictions for plummeting airline revenues. 

Saudi Arabia reopened its borders to international travel last May, ending a lockdown that lasted more than a year. 

However, in light of the new COVID-19 variants, the kingdom has updated its precautionary measures. Under the updated guidelines, travellers from the UAE, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Afghanistan will now have to undergo quarantine upon arrival. 

(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria) 

Cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com

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