UAE suspends flights with four countries over coronavirus concerns - GulfToday

UAE suspends flights with four countries over coronavirus concerns

  • 14 Mar 2020
PassengersMask2

A family wears face masks and gloves as they approach their gate in a terminal at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday. AFP

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced the suspension of all inbound and outbound flights with Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Iraq, with effect from March 17, and until further notice.

The move is part of the country's proactive precautionary and preventive health measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, said the GCAA in a statement on Saturday.

MobileMasksTravellers wearing protective masks look at a smart phone at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport, in Ezeiza on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. AFP

''The decision followed our analysis and assessment of the latest global situation and the scale of the spread of the virus to most countries of the world including Italy, '' the statement added.

''We are maintaining close coordination and cooperation with competent authorities inside and outside the country in regards to the evolving situation.''

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The statement further added that stakeholders operating under the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, NCEMA, are monitoring the latest global developments in order to take appropriate actions that ensure continuity of work inside the country and to mitigate potential risks.

The GCAA advised passengers affected by the suspension of flights to contact their respective air carriers to reschedule their flights and ensure their safe return to their final destinations.

WAM

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