Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has lifted the suspension on Air India Express flights to Dubai hours after it was suspended till 2 October for flying Covid-19 infected passengers. Air India Express in a tweet said, “Attention passengers from/to Dubai. All Air India Express flights from/to Dubai will operate as per original schedule, September 19, 2020.”
Earlier, on Friday morning it was reported that Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has banned all Air India Express flights for a period of 15 days from 18 September to 2 October, after two passengers who travelled in two different flights to Dubai, were tested Covid positive in the last few weeks. After this incident, DCAA had written a letter to Air India Express about the suspension.
“You are aware of our previous intimation made to you by our letter dated September 2 for boarding a passenger with a Covid positive test result, who endangered the other on-board passengers and now boarding another passenger with Covid-19 positive test result for the second time, is contrary to and is in violation of the laid down procedures by DCAA and Therefore, all operation of Air India Express to Dubai is temporarily suspended for a duration of 15 days, effective from September 18 until October 2,” the letter read.
DCAA had also made it clear that in addition to the suspension of operations, Air India Express would have to pay all the expenditure incurred by Dubai authorities for services which included medical services, quarantine charges for all other passengers in the said flight. In fact, after the suspension order by DCAA, Air India Express admitted the ban by Dubai.