A total of 13 international airlines have resumed scheduled flights this week as Dubai opened its skies to tourists from July 7.

In addition to foreign carriers, Dubai-based Emirates and flydubai have boosted their schedules. Airlines resuming operations to Dubai Airports include Air Blue, Air France, Cebu Pacific, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Middle East Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Royal Jordanian. 

"We have ensured everything is in place to welcome airlines from around the world back to Dubai as a growing number of bilateral agreements between countries conclude to facilitate the opening of borders and the gradual return of traffic," said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, according to a report carried by Khaleej Times.

"Our ability to resume passenger operations has been enabled by the significant and early steps the UAE government took to tackle the threat of the spread of the virus, together with the robust health and safety measures in place at the Dubai airports and the excellent advanced healthcare services available here in Dubai.

"We remain in close discussions with government officials and airlines to support the resumption of additional services as approvals are granted in the weeks and months ahead. The message is that we are ready to welcome visitors back to Dubai and we will do our utmost to take care of them whilst they are here," he added.

Stringent safety measures

Precautionary measures continue to be in place throughout the airport to maintain the health and safety of customers and staff. These measures include protective plexiglass at check-in and immigration counters, thermal and temperature screening, physical distancing markers and increased levels of sanitisation in compliance with international standards set out by the relevant authorities.

Passengers will be required to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (masks and gloves) and arrive to the airport no less than two hours but no greater than four hours before their flight to allow time for any additional screening measures.

Passengers advised to reach early

As services resume passengers are being advised to always confirm their terminal of departure and arrival with their airline prior to coming to the airport as some carriers may have temporarily changed terminals.

Passengers will be required to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (masks and gloves) and arrive to the airport no less than two hours but no greater than four hours before their flight to allow time for any additional screening measures.

In order to maintain public safety and physical distancing requirements, travellers without confirmed tickets, passengers without proper protective equipment, and passengers who arrive at the airport earlier than four hours before their scheduled departure time will not be permitted to enter the terminal buildings.