Dubai-based carrier, Emirates is to ground its entire passenger fleet from March 25 but will be continuing its cargo operations as Covid 19 smashes flight demand.
In a statement the airline said it has aimed to maintain passenger flights for as long as feasible to help travellers return home amidst an increasing number of travel bans, restrictions, and country lockdowns across the world but the latest stage of the pandemic meant, “the world has literally gone into quarantine,’ according to chief executive Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.
“This is an unprecedented crisis situation in terms of breadth and scale: geographically, as well as from a health, social, and economic standpoint,” said Al Maktoum.
“As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended most of its passenger operations. We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services."
Emirates Group has undertaken a number of cost cutting measures including a temporary reduction of basic salary for the majority of employees for three months, ranging from 25% to 50%.