Emirates And Etihad Banned From Flying To The UK From Tomorrow

The U.K. government has implemented a ban on travelers from over 30 countries arriving in the U.K. with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being one of the latest additions to the "red list".

On top of the UAE, the United Kingdom is also banning flights from Burundi and Rwanda all in a bid to stop the spread of a coronavirus variant first found in South Africa.

"From 1pm on Friday 29 January, passengers who have been in or transited through the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda in the last 10 days will no longer be granted access to the UK", said UK's Department for Transport on Thursday night.

The airline route from Dubai to London, which is the world's busiest global airline route, will be closed due to concerns over the spread of a more infectious and potentially vaccine-resistant Covid-19 variant first detected in South Africa.

"Passengers must still have proof of a negative test and completed Passenger Locator Form before arrival - or could otherwise face a £500 fine for each".

Swiss exempt from European Union vaccine export controls
The protocol has already proved unpopular with unionists in Northern Ireland, who complain of a border down the Irish Sea. The move brought both sides of Northern Ireland's Loyalist and Republican divide together in condemnation.

The flight ban could potentially have a significant impact on the two UAE-based carriers, namely Emirates and Etihad Airways.

The UK Government has closed its borders to the United Arab Emirates, forcing Emirates to suspend its services to Britain and Ireland.

As per the airline data provider OAG, border closures due to Covid-19 made the Dubai to London route the world's busiest global route in January, registering 190,365 scheduled seats over the month. The next busiest was Cairo and Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, with 154,337. All non-essential travel is banned and measures are being introduced that would make airlines responsible for checking the reasons for passenger travel and police used to enforce those deemed to be traveling against the ban. The airline operates to several British airports, including Birmingham Airport (BHX), Glasgow International Airport (GLE), London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Manchester Airport (MAN).

British nationals now in the UAE have been advised to make use of the commercial options available if they wish to return to the UK. "We look forward to resuming passenger services when conditions allow and will continue to work closely with all relevant authorities in this regard".