Stranded Pakistanis in UAE: PIA special flight operations begin today

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will begin special flight operations to repatriate stranded Pakistanis in the UAE from Saturday. Sources said that first special PIA flight from Dubai would repatriate up to 200 passengers to Islamabad.

As the airline is finalising a plan to launch several special flights during the next week to repatriate stranded Pakistani nationals in the UAE.

Sources maintained that 40,000 people had registered with Pakistan consulate in Dubai for repatriation including over 10,000 overseas Pakistanis who had been rendered jobless due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE Ghulam Dastgir said the PIA special flight operations would start on Saturday with Dubai to Islamabad. Special flights will operate from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to six Pakistani airports once the quarantine facilities are ready.

The UAE airlines will also participate in repatriation of the stranded Pakistanis. Pakistan has a capacity to quarantine 2,000 international passengers weekly, and this capacity will be increased up to 7,000 passengers from April 20th.

Pakistan will open more airports for international flights once quarantine facilities are ready in other cities. The UAE's share in total special flights will be on higher side as the number of stranded people is much higher compared to other countries of the world.

Ticket prices for special flights are slightly on the higher side as the airline will not fly with full passenger load due to the coronavirus outbreak. Average ticket price will cost close Dh1,500 per passenger.

Special flights for stranded Pakistani nationals will only be allowed to the Islamabad International Airport from Dubai initially due to limited facilities available to quarantine international passengers in the capital. The airline sources said special flight would be announced as soon as the government and the airlines finalise the arrangements.

The UAE airlines Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai are also expected to get permission to operate special flights to ensure speedy repatriation of stranded Pakistanis in the emirate.