Sanjay Singh / NEW DELHI
Air India’s subsidiary, Air India Express flights to airports in Dubai airports have been temporarily suspended for 15 days, from today after the airline was reportedly found ferrying a Covid19 patient twice.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said it has restricted Air India Express from flying to Dubai for 15 days, starting today, alleging that two coronavirus positive passengers flew on board the flights to Dubai on two separate occasions despite the passenger was tested Covid-19 positive.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has also penalized Air India Express and asked it to take care of all medical and quarantine expenses of the Covid19 passenger, whom the airline had ferried to Dubai.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said : “You are aware of our previous intimation made to you by our letter dated September 2 for boarding a passenger with a coronavirus positive test result, who endangered the other passengers on board and also caused a serious health risk”.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority further pointed out that boarding a Covid19 passenger coronavirus was also a violation of the laid down procedures relating to the air travel to and from Dubai airports during the ongoing Covid19 pandemic.
“Therefore, all operation of Air India Express to Dubai Airports is temporarily suspended, for a duration of 15 days, effective from 00:01 hrs on Friday 18th September 2020 until 23:59 hrs of 2nd October 2020,” the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority stated.
Air India Express has also been suggested to submit a detailed corrective action for resuming flights to Dubai.