Emirates to operate Bayanihan flights for Filipinos in UAE

MANILA, Philippines—Dubai-based airline Emirates has started operating special commercial flights to bring home Filipinos stranded in the Middle East.

In a statement, Emirates said the so-called Bayanihan flights started last week, with upcoming trips set on October 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Only Filipino citizens currently in the United Arab Emirates would be eligible to book seats on the special flights.

It said arriving passengers were required to undergo the 10-day facility-based quarantine, followed by a four-day home-based quarantine.

Allocations of quarantine facilities at designated hotels will be coordinated by Emirates along with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or the Department of Tourism, the carrier added.

Emirates said it resumed daily services to and from Manila while five weekly flights to Clark and twice weekly flights to Cebu were available for Filipinos and foreign nationals.

From Oct. 9-30, Emirates will operate eight flights weekly to and from Manila, with an additional flight on Saturdays, operating as EK334 and EK335.

Emirates recently announced plans to strengthen its workforce and hire 3,000 cabin crew and 500 airport services employees in its Dubai hub over the next six months.

“Emirates has gradually restored its network operations in line with the easing of travel restrictions around the world, and over the past months,” the airline said in the statement.

It added that it “has been recalling pilots, cabin crew and other operational employees who were stood down when the pandemic forced a drastic reduction in flights last year.”

Emirates flies to over 120 cities worldwide—representing 90 percent of its pre-pandemic network. It also plans to restore 70 percent of its capacity by the end of the year.

TSB