Since the deployment of Covid-19, Emirates and Dnata have continued to adjust their operations in line with official directions and demand for travel.

Emirates is working to continue operating passenger flights for as long as possible in order to facilitate the return of passengers to their home countries, amid increasing advertisements to ban and restrict flights and close borders across the world. But the carrier continues to global air freight operations that are extremely important in these circumstances, and operates its fleet of Boeing 777 freight planes to transport essential goods and products, including medical supplies and medicines to various countries of the world.

With many airlines that serve Dnata reduce their flights or stop services altogether, dnata has significantly reduced its operations, including the temporary closure of many of its offices within its global network of operations.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Supreme President and Chief Executive of Emirates Airlines and the group, said: "The world has already entered into a real and comprehensive quarantine due to the spread of Covid-19, and this is an unprecedented situation in terms of its breadth and coverage of the entire world in terms of geography, as well as from health aspects And the Emirates Group’s operations were going well in achieving the financial goals set until January 2020, but Covid-19 stopped all of this suddenly and painfully over the past six weeks. ”

His Highness added: “As an international air carrier, we find ourselves in a position that cannot effectively operate passenger services until the countries of the world reopen their borders and return to confidence in air travel. Although we will continue to shipments, which are still in great demand, Emirates Airlines will temporarily suspend all passenger flights from Wednesday, March 25. We are monitoring the situation, moment by moment, and we will resume the operation of our regular flights as soon as the conditions permit. "
And His Highness continued: "The Emirates Group has a strong balance sheet and a large cash flow, and is able to take appropriate and timely measures and to adapt for a long time to reduced flight schedules, so that we are fully prepared to resume work in a normal and complete manner."

Cut costs
The Emirates Group has taken a series of measures to control costs, because expectations of demand for travel remain weak across the markets in the short and medium term. These procedures include the following:
Postpone or stop unnecessary expenses
• Freezing all non-essential recruitment and consulting operations
• Work with its suppliers to achieve cost savings with the utmost efficiency
• Encouraging workers to take paid or unpaid leave due to the suspension of flights
• A temporary reduction in the basic salaries of the majority of workers in the Emirates Group for a period of 3 months, ranging from 25% - 50%. All allowances will continue to be paid to workers during this period. The exception is the reduction in basic salaries working in lower grades.
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airlines, and Gary Chapman, President of Dnata, have suspended their base salary by 100% for a period of three months.

Basic salaries
Regarding the decision to reduce basic salaries, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: "We are keen to protect our highly qualified human resources, and instead of requiring workers to leave work, we have chosen to temporarily reduce basic salaries to avoid abolishing jobs. We also want when the demand for Travel To be able to resume our services quickly and efficiently. "
The Emirates Group has strong liquidity, with a sound financial position, but it is wise to take steps to reduce costs at this time. Emirates Airlines remains committed to serving its markets, and looks forward to resuming scheduled flights once the relevant authorities allow it.
Protect clients, workers, and communities

The Emirates Group continues to monitor the situation closely, and to maintain contact with the relevant authorities, so that it can implement the latest directives to maintain the safety of its customers and employees.
The Emirates Group stressed all its employees to avoid unnecessary travel, and initiated the policy of home work for all employees whenever possible, applying advanced methods of cleaning and disinfection in all its facilities, and conducting thermal examination of employees at the entrances to its main offices. It also launched awareness campaigns on hand hygiene and health best practices to reduce the risks of "Covid 19".


In the past few weeks, Emirates Airlines has also applied advanced cleaning and sterilization procedures to all its aircraft that leave Dubai as a precaution, and has worked in close cooperation with airports to conduct checks for passengers heading to countries whose laws require this. The airline also provided its front-line personnel, such as flight crew members and airport personnel, with the necessary protective equipment and materials, such as disinfectants and masks, when needed.

Emirates Airlines is keen to provide its full support to all initiatives aimed at protecting the health of societies in all the markets that it operates, including the UAE national initiative for "Covid-19".

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “The aviation and travel industry is now experiencing unprecedented situations, but we are optimistic about overcoming it. I have touched on our employees, partners, customers and all related parties, I am fully confident that we are able to face these challenges and emerge from them stronger and more coherent. "