UAE suspends flights from India

The UAE will suspend all passenger flights from India as part of efforts to combat COVID-19.

The decision has been announced by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) in coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Entry from India will be suspended for all incoming national and foreign carriers.

Passengers who have transited through India in the last 14 days will also be denied entry.

Meanwhile, those coming from India through other countries are required to stay in those countries for at least 14 days before being allowed to enter the UAE.

Cargo flights between the two countries will continue as usual, and so will outbound flights from the UAE to India.

The restrictions, which come into effect from 11:59 pm on Saturday, April 24 will be reviewed after 10 days.

UAE citizens, diplomatic missions between the two countries, official delegations, business planes and golden residency visa holders are excluded from the latest decision.

Transit flights coming into the country and bound for India are also exempted from the ruling.

Those exempted will have to undergo PCR tests before flying and get tested again on arrival, in addition to completing a 10-day quarantine.

They will also have to take PCR tests on the fourth and the eighth day of entering the country.

Moreover, the required PCR test period has been reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours prior to travel from accredited laboratories that issue test results carrying a QR code.#TogetherWeRecover

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) April 23, 2021

"The decision to suspend flights came after studying and evaluating the epidemiological situation in the friendly Republic of India and within the framework of continuous coordination and cooperation with all relevant authorities inside and outside the country, said the GCAA.

It has also called on all travellers affected by the latest decision to follow up with their airlines for amending their flight bookings. 

The concerned authorities, under the umbrella of the NCEMA, follow up the global situation to take appropriate decisions that ensure the continuity of the work system within the country, while at the same time reducing the risk of the spread of the pandemic.#TogetherWeRecover

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) April 22, 2021

#WamBreaking: #UAE suspends flights from #Indiahttps://t.co/GcOwWpkKW7

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) April 22, 2021