What Kenya’s Dubai Flight Suspension Means For Passengers

Kenya has suspended all flights from Dubai for seven days. This comes after the UAE prolonged its ban on flights from Kenya after passengers flying from Nairobi had been suspected of counterfeiting PCR check outcomes. Kenya Airways and Emirates have suspended flights with speedy impact.

Kenya suspends Dubai flights for per week

To curb the unfold of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the UAE banned journey from a number of African nations, together with Kenya. The nation lately prolonged its ban on flights from Kenya after discovering many passengers holding adverse PCR exams had been later testing constructive for the virus upon arrival.

In return, Kenya has suspended all inbound and transit flights from Dubai. The suspension got here into impact on Monday at midnight and can final for seven days. The ban doesn’t have an effect on cargo operations, that are set to proceed as regular.

The flight ban got here into impact on Monday at midnight. Photograph: Getty Photographs

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Director-Basic Gilbert Kibe stated,

“Inbound and transit passenger flights from UAE are suspended for a interval of seven days. We’re doing this to reciprocate a ban on Kenyan passenger flights to UAE.”

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Kenya Airways and Emirates droop flights

On account of the reciprocal flight bans between Kenya and Dubai, flag carriers Kenya Airways and Emirates have suspended all Kenya-Dubai flights till additional discover. So what does this imply for passengers?

Kenya Airways will refund all passengers with bookings throughout the suspension interval. Moreover, these passengers can be allowed to rebook with the airline at no further value as soon as the flight suspension is over.

Kenya Airways stated,

“Refunds could be supplied through an EMD Voucher that may be utilized inside one yr from date of subject.”

Emirates has additionally suspended its Nairobi-Dubai flights. The airline advises passengers with bookings to carry onto their tickets till flights resume.

Emirates stated,

“Affected clients don’t have to name us instantly for rebooking. Clients can merely maintain on to their Emirates tickets and when flights resume, get in contact with their journey brokers or reserving workplace to make new journey plans.”

Beneath new measures, passengers each arriving and transiting in Dubai might want to take a PCR check upon arrival and self-quarantine till they obtain a adverse end result.

Kenyan passengers discovered with false PCR exams

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) first banned flights from Kenya on December twentieth earlier than extending the ban on December twenty fourth. It alleges that many passengers touring from Kenya falsified their PCR exams to achieve entry and examined constructive upon arrival.

KCAA Director-Basic Gilbert Kibe acknowledged {that a} coalition of personal medical testing facilities was liable for the scheme. Kenya’s Ministry of Well being is conducting an investigation into the testing facilities.

The KCAA added,

“They banned flights from Kenya on account of many false adverse COVID-19 PCR outcomes. The Ministry of Well being is investigating and can report findings quickly.”

COVID circumstances in Kenya are hovering, with the nation’s positivity charge climbing from 0.5% in October to twenty.8% on January tenth. The nation has vaccinated round 10.6 million of its residents, with 4.48 million receiving two or extra jabs.

What do you consider Kenya and the UAE’s tit-for-tat flight bans? Have your journey plans been affected? Tell us within the feedback.