Emirates will add seven more cities to its network of routes starting in July. The Dubai-based airline announced in a statement released on Friday that the additional destination would take its network to 48 cities around the globe.
The state-owned airline listed the following destinations as new scheduled flights:
- Khartoum, Sudan from July 3
- Amman, Jordan from July 5
- Osaka, Japan from July 7
- Narita, Japan from July 8
- Athens, Greece from July 15
- Larnaka, Cyprus from July 15
- Rome, Italy from July 15
The airline went on to say that adding the additional destinations to its global network would allow passengers the convenience of transferring through Dubai International Airport (DXB). As well as being a convenient hub for flying to different continents Emirates was eager to point out that extensive safety measures are in place to ensure passenger well being during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubai to open up on July 7
The announcement of the seven new destinations comes soon after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that Dubai would be open for business and leisure travelers starting July 7. When making the announcement, the UAE stressed that new travel protocols would be in place for UAE citizens, residents, and tourists. The measures were being implemented to safeguard not only the local population but also the health and safety of visitors.
From July 7, passengers will be able to fly between destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. This is, of course, providing they meet the country's travel and immigration requirements to which they are flying.
Health and safety first
Emirates has rolled out a new program to combat the coronavirus. This also includes a comprehensive safety guide for every step of the journey. Additionally, passengers are being given a complimentary hygiene kit that contains a face mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, and antibacterial wipes.
Emirates politely reminds passengers that travel restrictions remain in place. Altogether, passengers will only be allowed to board planes if they meet the country's eligibility requirements. To find out the individual country's policies, you can visit Emirates' website.
Any visitor traveling to Dubia must hold an internationally valid health insurance policy. This must cover the duration of their stay in the United Arab Emirates.
Emirates to take a look at its post-COVID-19 business model
In other Emirates news, its chief operating officer told Reuters last week that the Gulf airline needs to redefine its strategy following the coronavirus crisis. Emirates is one of the biggest long-haul airlines globally. Ultimately, it has helped transform Dubai into a major international hub over the past three decades.
"We will need to redefine some of the operating model...because surely what used to work for us in the past is not going to work for us going forward," Adel Ahmad Al Redha told Reuters.
A part of the new strategy will be to work more closely with fellow state carrier flydubai. Meanwhile, it will be introducing smaller aircraft into its fleet. Currently, Emirates operates a fleet of large widebody Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, which it has had to ground as a result of the medical emergency.
What do you think of Emirates' seven new routes? Please let us know in the comments.