NEW DELHI: The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has suspended all operations of Air India Express, the no-frills subsidiary of national carrier Air India Ltd, to operate at all airports in the country until October 2, after discovered that the airline was carrying covid-19 infected passengers aboard its flight to the Gulf nation on September 4.
According to a communication addressed to the airline’s regional manager for the Gulf, Middle East and Africa region on September 17, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority states that it will suspend the airline’s operations in Dubai for fifteen days from 18 September. September, as the airline violated established protocols. carrying a passenger infected with covid-19 for the second time.
“Approaching a passenger with a positive covid-19 test result for the second time is contrary and violates the established procedures and / or protocols related to air travel to and from airports in the Emirate of Dubai, during the SARS coronavirus Cov. 2 pandemic, “said the statement from Dubai’s aviation regulator.
“Therefore, all Air India Express operations to Dubai airports are temporarily suspended, for a duration of 15 days, from 12:01 am on Friday, September 18, 2020 until 11:59 pm on Friday. October 2, 2020, “he said.
“In addition to the suspension of the operation, you will also be notified to pay all expenses incurred by the respective authorities for medical services and / or quarantine of any passenger (s) and other passengers on the flight and also any other related expenses” added.
The Kochi-based airline has also been asked to submit a detailed corrective action plan or implementation procedure to prevent such incidents from happening again for the resumption of its flights to Dubai.
Mint has reviewed a copy of the communication.
A senior Air India Express official said the airline will divert its flights bound for Dubai to Sharjah during the suspension period.
“The airline has apologized to the Dubai civil aviation authority for the unfortunate incidents,” the official said requesting anonymity.
The latest incident of suspension of the operation of Air India Express in Dubai comes a month after one of the airline’s Boeing 737 jets carrying 191 people from Dubai left a wet runway while landing at Kozhikode Airport in Kerala The aircraft crashed into a ravine, splitting in two and leaving 17 people, including the two pilots, dead and several seriously injured.
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