Pupils from Herbert Macaulay Girls Senior High School wear face masks to protect against coronavirus in Lagos Nigeria. Public and private schools resumed in-person classes on August 4 after months of closure. Sunday Alamba / AP
Pupils from Herbert Macaulay Girls Senior High School wear face masks to protect against coronavirus in Lagos Nigeria. Public and private schools resumed in-person classes on August 4 after months of closure. Sunday Alamba / AP
Pupils from Birrel Avenue Senior High School Yaba wear face masks to protect against coronavirus in Lagos Nigeria. Sunday Alamba / AP
Pupils from Birrel Avenue Senior High School Yaba wear face masks to protect against coronavirus in Lagos Nigeria. Sunday Alamba / AP
A woman wears a protective face mask at the Murtala Mohammed International airport in Lagos, Nigeria, in March. Temilade Adelaja / Reuters
A woman wears a protective face mask at the Murtala Mohammed International airport in Lagos, Nigeria, in March. Temilade Adelaja / Reuters
Muslims pray in a mosque for the first time in months in Lagos. Places of worship were closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but reopened in early August. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
Muslims pray in a mosque for the first time in months in Lagos. Places of worship were closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but reopened in early August. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A woman has her temperature checked on entry to Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa in Lagos, on August 7. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A woman has her temperature checked on entry to Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa in Lagos, on August 7. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A man wash hands with sanitiser as he arrives at a mosque in Lagos on August 7. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A man wash hands with sanitiser as he arrives at a mosque in Lagos on August 7. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
Worshippers wear face masks as they attend a mass following the reopening of churches and lifting of restrictions on religious gatherings in Lagos, on August 9. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
Worshippers wear face masks as they attend a mass following the reopening of churches and lifting of restrictions on religious gatherings in Lagos, on August 9. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
Worshippers wear face masks as they attend mass outside the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
Worshippers wear face masks as they attend mass outside the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A woman washes her hands outside church. Bans on religious gatherings lifted across Nigeria in early August. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A woman washes her hands outside church. Bans on religious gatherings lifted across Nigeria in early August. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A woman wears a face mask and sanitises her hands before entering the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP
A woman wears a face mask and sanitises her hands before entering the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos. Pius Utomi Ekpei / AFP

Transport

Emirates airline extends restrictions covering South Africa and Nigeria flights

Travel from South Africa remains banned until July 6, while flights to and from Nigeria are cancelled until further notice

The National

June 22, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Flights from South Africa will remain suspended until July 6, Emirates airline has said.

Daily passenger flights to Johannesburg will operate but outbound services remain suspended.

In addition, passengers who have been to, or connected through, South Africa in the previous 14 days will not be permitted on any Emirates flights bound for Dubai.

The decision was "in line with government directives that restrict the entry of travellers originating from South Africa, into the UAE," the airline said.

All Nigeria flights off

Passengers will also not be allowed to travel to, or from, Nigeria until further notice.

People travelling to and from Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted for travel, nor customers who have been to, or connected through, the west African country in the past 14 days.

Flights between the UAE and Nigeria were first halted in March after a strain that was markedly more resistant to vaccines, similar to the South Africa strain, was detected.

India flights still back on

On Saturday, Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster management said airlines were given the go-ahead to fly between India, Nigeria and South Africa from June 23.

Emirates said it would set out India flights soon, while Indian carriers were expected to put out flight details and tickets imminently.

Passengers from India will require a valid UAE visa to travel and must also have had both doses of a UAE approved Covid-19 vaccine.

They must also take a PCR test on arrival and agree to "institutional quarantine" until they receive the result.

South Africa battles Covid-19 surge - in pictures

A traveller is tested at the Grasmere Toll Plaza in Lenasia, South Africa. Reuters
A traveller is tested at the Grasmere Toll Plaza in Lenasia, South Africa. Reuters
City of Tshwane's Special Infection Unit paramedics and a doctor load a man showing symptoms of Covid-19 into an isolation chamber in the north of Pretoria, South Africa. AFP
City of Tshwane's Special Infection Unit paramedics and a doctor load a man showing symptoms of Covid-19 into an isolation chamber in the north of Pretoria, South Africa. AFP
A normally busy interchange on the M2 east highway is seen devoid of vehicles during national lockdown in South Africa. EPA
A normally busy interchange on the M2 east highway is seen devoid of vehicles during national lockdown in South Africa. EPA
A volunteer sprays disinfectant during a deep cleaning operation inside the Villa Liza Clinic, in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. AFP
A volunteer sprays disinfectant during a deep cleaning operation inside the Villa Liza Clinic, in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. AFP
A woman wearing a mask crosses a waterlogged street after rainfall in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. AP Photo
A woman wearing a mask crosses a waterlogged street after rainfall in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. AP Photo
Empty buildings during lockdown in Sandton, South Africa. EPA
Empty buildings during lockdown in Sandton, South Africa. EPA
A City of Tshwane's Special Infection Unit paramedic closes the door of an ambulance in the north of Pretoria, South Africa. AFP
A City of Tshwane's Special Infection Unit paramedic closes the door of an ambulance in the north of Pretoria, South Africa. AFP
A health worker wears protective clothing as she prepares to test travellers at the Grasmere Toll Plaza, in Lenasia, South Africa. Reuters
A health worker wears protective clothing as she prepares to test travellers at the Grasmere Toll Plaza, in Lenasia, South Africa. Reuters
An empty garage with no vehicles or staff during lockdown in South Africa. EPA
An empty garage with no vehicles or staff during lockdown in South Africa. EPA
Related
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)

Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE

Match is on BeIN Sports

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting there

The flights

Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.

The stay

Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net 

Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama

Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M2%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206%2C%20Bluetooth%205.0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%2C%20midnight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%20or%2035W%20dual-port%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C999%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Whiile you're here
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
CoronavirusTransportUAE