UKMS

Looks like there will be a rush for DXB tonight !

No more UAE to UK flights and non Brits / Irish banned from entering UK if they been here in the past 10 days.

Not really a shock !

csdf

I believe I predicted this about 9 months ago.

Millhouse

Wasn't Dubai airport closed back then?

flares

I'd stay out there. Miserable here (although hints of early spring)

Millhouse

You've got the sea shanties to cheer you up.... let's hope that's a phase that passes quickly.

UKMS

yep 🤣

UKMS

the guy who started it has made a few quid though !

DXBtoDOH

Just ride out the next few months. Good weather in the UAE at the moment, I imagine? Given the high % of UAE population already vaccinated I'm sure it's just a matter of time till the routes are reopened. Transit passengers are probably DOA for a long time, however.

UKMS

Qatar airlines apparently blocking any new bookings from DXB for brits trying to get back to UK via DOH

csdf

I'm really not looking forward to another summer stuck in the UAE though.
Transit is the whole point of Emirates' existence though - if transits are banned then I'm not sure Emirates will keep direct flights UAE-UK just to cater for the UAE-resident Brits to travel back and forth on.

Millhouse

Of course they will... or it's the end of Emirates. It will be just less flights and to potentially fewer locations. Some transit will continue, how else will the population of Birmingham go home to see family.

UKMS

they won’t give up valuable slots just because of a temporary ban.

csdf

Let's hope so. But didn't Heathrow give "grace" to all the airlines last year to avoid them flying empty in order to maintain their slots?

scrubbedexpat141

Obviously can still get between the two, via proxy countries. I wonder if Eurostar is going at the moment, that could be fun. Or KLM fly into Southampton, closer to Mothers.

People need to travel for a multitude of reasons so shutting the flights when you can still make the journey is dumb.

Millhouse

I can't imagine Heathrow has a long list of potential customers waiting to take up the slots right now.