Emirates announced on Thursday the resumption of service to five additional destinations including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Harare, and Mauritius. The added service expands the carrier’s global route network to 92 destinations.
On Thursday (September 24, 2020), Emirates announced an expansion of their global network to 92 destinations with the resumption of service to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban (South Africa), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Mauritius. Flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Harare will resume October 1st, service to Mauritius on October 3rd and Durban flights will restart on October 4, 2020. Emirates’ guests flying from the three South African gateways will now enjoy seamless connections via Dubai for onward destinations in Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, West Africa and Australasia. The carrier will release their South African schedule later this week.
Service to Harare will operate twice-weekly linked to Emirates’ Lusaka service, with the linked services connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe with key destinations across the carrier’s network via Dubai. Flights between Dubai and Mauritius will initially operate once-weekly on Saturdays, supporting the Mauritian government’s repatriation efforts and assisting in the recover of the country’s tourism industry.
Emirates’ guests purchasing tickets by September 30, 2020 for travel on or before November 30, 2020 will enjoy generous rebooking terms and options if their plans change due to unexpected COVID-19 related flight or travel restrictions or when they book a Flex or Flex Plus fare. Additionally, First and Business Class guests can enjoy Emirates’ Chauffeur Drive service in Dubai and relax in the airline’s signature lounge facility at Dubai International Airport. The carrier has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the guest journey to ensure the health and wellbeing of their guests and team members. Emirates also distributes complimentary hygiene kits which include masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes.
Emirates wants their guests to travel with confidence and has therefore committed to covering all COVID-19 related medical expenses, free of cost, should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 during their travel. The coverage is available to customers traveling in all cabins when their first flight is completed on or before October 31, 2020. The protection will remain valid for an additional 31 days after arriving at their first destination with Emirates, even if they travel onwards to another city. As an added convenience, no registration is required, and a hotline has been set up for assistance and coverage. If a customer’s travel plans are impacted by COVID-19 related flight or travel restrictions, their tickets will remain valid for 24 months. Emirates’ guests can rebook for travel later, request travel vouchers or receive a refund via an online form.
Travelers can also enjoy a stopover or holiday in Dubai as the city is now open to international leisure travelers. All inbound passengers to the UAE will require a COVID-19 PCR test, including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, regardless of their departure country. Dubai is one of the most popular global destinations, welcoming 16.7 million visitors in 2019. From sun-soaked beaches to heritage activities and world-class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai has something to offer for all guests. Additionally, Dubai was one of the world’s first cities to receive the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) for their effective measures to ensure the health and safety of visitors.
Source: Emirates