Dubai extends its suspension on all flights from Kenya till Christmas eve

Dubai has extended the 48-hour suspension Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) had imposed on all inbound flights from Kenya.

The suspension that took effect on Monday at 9:30 am and was supposed to last till Wednesday has now been extended to December 24.

Emirates, the country’s carrier posted the extension notice on their website informing its customers about the directive.

“As per the directive from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), all air transport services with inbound and transit passenger movements to the emirate of Dubai from any point in Kenya are temporarily suspended up to and including December 24,” the notice read.

The announcement further noted that Emirates would not accept customers travelling to Dubai on their airline.

However, Emirates said outbound passenger operations from Dubai to Nairobi will remain operational.

“Customers will not be accepted for travel on Emirates flights at Nairobi during this time. Outbound passenger operations from Dubai to Nairobi remain unaffected,” Emirates said.

Kenyan national carrier Kenya Airways also suspended passenger flights to Dubai on Tuesday in line with the DCAA directive.

Kenya Airways said it would refund fares to passengers who had booked travel within the suspension period.

Dubai now requires all passengers from Africa to provide PCR test results conducted at the airports within six hours of departure to Dubai.

Travellers from Africa are also supposed to self-quarantine until negative Covid-19 test results are out and certificates issued within 48 hours of arrival in Dubai.

Both passengers transiting through Dubai and those ending their journey in the United Arab Emirates country are affected by the new rules.

The suspension and new rules come as the number of new Covid-19 infections increase in Kenya in the last few days.