The United Kingdom started a ban on all direct passenger flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last 29 January 2021, effectively shutting down the Dubai to London airline route — the world’s busiest international line.
Aside from the UAE, Burundi and Rwanda were also added to Britain’s travel ban list for fear of the continuous spread of a more contagious COVID-19 variant.
“This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish and third-country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for 10 days at home,” according to UK Transport Minister Grant Shapps.
The UK transport department advised British nationals currently in the United Arab Emirates to make use of indirect commercial airline routes if they wished to return to Britain.
Emirates and Etihad normally carry large numbers of passengers connecting from Britain to destinations like Australia through their airport hubs, meaning the decision to cancel those flights will have far-reaching implications. The Australian government said it will add more charter flights from Britain if needed as a result of the Emirates and Etihad cancellations.