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Emirates Airline is waiving the re-booking fees and granting refunds for those China-bound passengers who want to make changes to their travel bookings.
The carrier also confirmed that all travellers and crew arriving in Dubai from the Asian country are being screened for coronavirus.
A spokesperson told Zawya on Monday that flyers travelling to and from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Wuhan with tickets issued on or before January 24 will not be charged re-booking fees if they wish to move their departure or fly to another destination. Customers can also request for a refund if they no longer want to go ahead with their travel.
The coronavirus scare has had an impact on the travel industry not only in China but in other markets as well. China imposed last week a blanket travel ban on Wuhan and many other cities in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has so far killed more than 50 people and infected nearly 2,000.
The Asian state is one of the top ten source markets for the UAE’s travel and tourism industry, just behind India, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and Oman. In 2019, close to 1 million Chinese visitors arrived in Dubai, up by 15 percent from the previous year.
A travel agent based in Dubai told Zawya that since news about the virus broke, they have had customers asking to cancel their bookings to China.
The UAE government has repeatedly assured that there is no confirmed case of coronavirus in the UAE, but citizens and residents have been urged to stay vigilant.
Waiver of fees, virus screening
“We can confirm that the Dubai health authorities are screening passengers and crew who arrive on Emirates’ flights from China, which includes our flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou,” a spokesperson for Emirates told Zawya.
The airline said it is also in close contact with all relevant UAE and Chinese regulatory authorities and are complying with their directives and guidance.
“We are also closely monitoring and implementing the guidance of the World Health Organisation, which currently does not advise any restrictions on travel,” the airline added.
According to Emirates, the waiver of re-booking fees and refund charges will be applicable in the following instances:
For travel to/ from Wuhan via Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou between January 23 and February 23:
- Customers may change their bookings up to seven days from their booked travel date.
- Customers have the option to reroute up to seven days from their booked travel date.
- Customers may request a refund if they no longer wish to travel to/from Wuhan for travel dates 23 January 2020 until 23 February 2020
For travel to/ from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou between January 24 and February 29:
- Customers may change their bookings up to seven days from their booked travel date.
- Customers have the option to reroute up to seven days from their booked travel date
- Customers may request a refund if they no longer wish to travel to/ from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou for travel dates from January 24, 2020, until February 6, 2020
(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Anoop Menon)
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