Indian citizens trying to return to United Arab Emirates have remained grounded, because airlines said they had not yet received approval from UAE authorities.
Dubai authorities last Saturday had said that fully vaccinated Indians with UAE residency visas would be permitted to travel from June 23.
Air India, however, on Wednesday said it did not have permission to sell tickets or allow passengers to board flights to Dubai. Emirates said it was waiting for "travel protocols and relevant permits from the government authorities before resuming our flights from India to Dubai", in tweets to passengers.
The UAE stopped passengers travelling from India on April 25 amid a surge in cases and the emergence of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
A handful of exceptions included diplomats, Emiratis and golden visa holders.
P P Singh, regional manager for Air India and Air India Express, said bookings for flights from India had not opened.
“We are waiting for formal instructions from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority," he said.
"As of now, there is no change in the restrictions. There have been no new instructions to the airlines."
The airline repeated a previous advisory that flights were suspended until July 6.
“In view of travel restrictions announced by the UAE government, flights between India and UAE are suspended till 6th July. Please keep a watch on our Twitter handle and website for further updates,” the airline said on Twitter.
One Air India flight landed in Dubai from Amritsar, northern India, on Wednesday.
Flights to Dubai are allowed to carry passengers who are exempt from the travel restrictions, including diplomats and residents with golden visas.
Anil Punjabi, chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India in the eastern region, said travel groups were flooded with calls asking for updates.
“They fulfil the criteria of having a double dose of vaccine but they are stranded," he said.
"After the news that Dubai is open to such passengers, people began calling up agents and the airlines because they are confused about why they cannot book flights.”
He said bookings were being made for flights from July 7 onwards.
Dubai officials have not yet commented on flights from India after an announcement on Saturday that travel restrictions were to ease for passengers from the country, as well as Nigeria and South Africa.
But on Monday, Emirates halted flights between Dubai and Nigeria and South Africa, and on Wednesday said flights would not resume until July 6.
Comments
Hii sir please help my vacation already finished last month I check ICA approved showing green but July 7 I have ticket now ICA red my visa from Abu Dhabi my flight Delhi to Dubai how go my company also how many times call me please help
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