In a major development, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) have suspended all inbound flights for national and international carriers coming from India for 10 days. As per a statement issued by GCAA on Thursday, all inbound transit passengers are included in the travel ban. An exception has been made for transit flights coming to the UAE and further heading towards India. This rule is effective as of April 24, 2021 (Saturday), at 23:56 hours till May 4.

In addition, it is mandatory for passengers coming from India through other countries that they have not stayed in those countries for less than 14 days in order to enter the UAE.

The statement further noted that cargo flights between the UAE and India will continue to operate as per the usual schedule.

UAE nationals, diplomatic missions between the two nations, official delegations, golden residence holders, and, flights of businessmen have been excluded from the new decision. But they are required to comply with all preventive measures, including a mandatory 10-day quarantine and an RT-PCR test at the airport. They are also required to undergo COVID-19 tests on the fourth and eighth days of their arrival in the UAE.

Furthermore, the authorities have reduced the period of PCR tests from 72 hours to 48 hours. The tests must be issued by accredited laboratories and must carry the QR Code.

The statement noted that the new decision has come in line with the proactive preventive and precautionary health protocols issued by the concerned authorities with the aim of limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the UAE. In the statement, the GCAA said that the decision was taken after evaluating the pandemic situation in India.

"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 that continuously monitor developments in the situation to maintain the security and safety of civil aviation," the GCAA said.

In coordination with the NCEMA, concerned authorities are monitoring the global situation to implement appropriate measures to ensure the continuity of business and economic activities in the UAE while curtailing the spread and risk of the pandemic.

NCEMA has also urged all passengers affected by the decision to contact the airlines and follow up about the changes in flight schedules. They can modify and reschedule their flights while ensuring a safe return to their final destinations without any delay or other difficulties.

WAM