ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates announced on Wednesday that all airports in the country would be allowed to operate limited flights for transit, repatriation of expats or return of residents or citizens. The announcement was made during the press briefing on development related to coronavirus by Dr. Saif Juma Al Dhaheri, spokesman for National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management, state news agency WAM reported. Al Dhaheri said that the UAE has taken additional steps toward restoring normalcy by allowing some of the country's airports to permit the transfer and transit of passengers from other international ports. "The decision includes Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Sharjah International Port, and covers Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia," he said, noting that these carriers would announce details on their operations in the coming days. "The decision has been made following a holistic review by a number of national authorities, including NCEMA, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and the health sector." "As a global aviation hub, the UAE is determined to ensure the application of COVID-19 countermeasures according to the criteria of various international aviation organizations in order to protect the safety of passengers and staff at its airports," Al Dhaheri continued. "Dedicated taskforces from various departments have been working to develop a comprehensive framework to apply safety procedures across the country's airports and through air carriers by conducting field visits to ensure all precautionary measures are in place for the safety of all passengers across all arrival and departure terminals, as well as in all means of transport inside airports and plane cabins," the NCEMA spokesman explained. He added that field teams at the country's airports made up of both citizens and residents are exerting all efforts to "honor their responsibilities, accelerate the restoration of normal air traffic, and support this vital sector. We thank them all for their honorable efforts."
