Ryanair has announced it is likely to ground “most, if not all” flights sooner than expected, and it will be before the end of the month.
Europe’s biggest budget airline originally said it would be forced to cancel most services in April and May, but has now confirmed that schedules could be pared down to nothing by 24 March.
From this date, Ryanair says it expects that the vast majority if not all of Ryanair Group flights will be grounded, barring a very small number of flights to maintain essential connectivity, mostly between the UK and Ireland.
Download the new Independent Premium app
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
The carrier added that between 18-24 March, it would be cutting 80 per cent of flights.
Customers who are affected by the changes will be notified of their options, which include rebooking minus the usual fee, or a full refund.
Ryanair has asked that travellers do not contact its call centres as they are “overloaded” dealing with customer queries.
Details of the severely reduced schedule can be found on the Travel Advisory page on the Ryanair.com website.
The move is partly in response to the UK government’s announcement this week that it is advising against all but essential international travel in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Most EU Governments have also imposed strict travel bans and restrictions in the last week.
Ryanair said it would continue to stay in close contact with the foreign ministries of all EU governments on the repatriation of EU citizens, and would, where possible, operate rescue flights to get people home.
The airline said in a statement: “Ryanair sincerely regrets all disruptions caused by this unprecedented Covid-19 crisis.
Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul
Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague
2/20 Grand Mosque, Mecca
3/20 Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
4/20 Nabi Younes market, Mosul
5/20 Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq
6/20 Charles Bridge, Prague
7/20 Taj Mahal hotel, India
8/20 Dubai Mall, UAE
9/20 Beirut March, Lebanon
10/20 Gateway of India, Mumbai
11/20 Cairo University, Egypt
12/20 Amman Citadel, Jordan
13/20 Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
14/20 Beirut March, Lebanon
15/20 Cairo, Egypt
16/20 Cairo University, Egypt
17/20 Victoria Memorial, India
18/20 Amman Citadel, Jordan
19/20 Amman Citadel, Jordan
20/20 Sidon, Lebanon
1/20
Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul
Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague
2/20 Grand Mosque, Mecca
3/20 Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
4/20 Nabi Younes market, Mosul
5/20 Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq
6/20 Charles Bridge, Prague
7/20 Taj Mahal hotel, India
8/20 Dubai Mall, UAE
9/20 Beirut March, Lebanon
10/20 Gateway of India, Mumbai
11/20 Cairo University, Egypt
12/20 Amman Citadel, Jordan
13/20 Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
14/20 Beirut March, Lebanon
15/20 Cairo, Egypt
16/20 Cairo University, Egypt
17/20 Victoria Memorial, India
18/20 Amman Citadel, Jordan
19/20 Amman Citadel, Jordan
20/20 Sidon, Lebanon
“The safety and well-being of our people and customers is our main priority and we will continue to comply with all WHO and EASA guidelines, as well as all Government travel restrictions which have been imposed over recent days to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
“All our thoughts and prayers are with our people and our customers and their families as we work our way through this crisis.”
Dubai: The Philippine flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), will continue its flights between Dubai and Manila despite earlier announcement of operational disruption as part of the Philippine government’s implementation of “enhanced community quarantine.”
Agnes Pagaduan, PAL country manager-UAE, told Gulf News on Wednesday daily flights between Dubai and Manila “will continue as scheduled.”
Earlier, the PAL office in Manila announced suspension of operation from March 20 until April 12 after President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon – with around 58M people or 59 per cent of the entire Filipino population – under “enhanced community quarantine”. The deadly disease has so far affected 202 people and claimed 17 lives in the Philippines.
Pagaduan said the revised announcement came after the Philippine Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IAFT-EID) has lifted the ban on international flights coming in and out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippines’ main gateway
IAFT-EID said: “all persons, regardless of nationality, except for Filipino tourists, may now fly out of the country at any time.”
“Inbound international passengers are allowed entry, subject to strict immigration and quarantine protocols,” it added.
It was also agreed that medical certificates of good health should be validated by their respective embassies for passengers from Italy and Iran.
Sweeper flights for foreign nationals to bring them to airports will be allowed to continue operations.
Meanwhile, only one person is allowed to bring a passenger to the airport and he/she must depart immediately after dropping off the passenger. The driver should carry with him/her a copy of the airline ticket of the passenger as proof of conveyance.
IAFT-EID also advised affected passengers to wait for official word or contact their respective air carriers on resumption of their flights.
Source: Read Full Article