BREAKING: Emirates suspends its passenger network by 25th March

UPDATED: 00:35 23/03/2020 – Emirates have backtracked slightly. Please see this post.

This post has been updated to reflect the changes.

After announcing multiple suspensions, Emirates has announced that it is to suspend its ENTIRE passenger operation.

Most passenger flights will be suspended by 25th March.

Emirates Boeing 777-300ER preparing to depart Birmingham Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond

The cargo network will be left intact.

Routes that will continue to operate include:

• United Kingdom
• Switzerland
• Hong Kong
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Japan
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Australia
• South Africa
• United States of America

Check with the airline if your flight is impacted at www.emirates.com

As well as suspending the network, the airline is cutting costs – including encouraging employees to take paid or unpaid leave in light of the reduced flying capacity and a temporary reduction of basic salary for the majority of Emirates Group employees for three months, ranging from 25% to 50%.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group said:

“The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is an unprecedented crisis situation in terms of breadth and scale: geographically, as well as from a health, social, and economic standpoint. Until January 2020, the Emirates Group was doing well against our current financial year targets. But COVID-19 has brought all that to a sudden and painful halt over the past 6 weeks.

“As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended all its passenger operations. We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services.

“Emirates Group has a strong balance sheet, and substantial cash liquidity, and we can, and will, with appropriate and timely action, survive through a prolonged period of reduced flight schedules, so that we are adequately prepared for the return to normality.”

On the decision to reduce basic salary, Sheikh Ahmed said:

“Rather than ask employees to leave the business, we chose to implement a temporary basic salary cut as we want to protect our workforce and keep our talented and skilled people, as much as possible. We want to avoid cutting jobs. When demand picks up again, we also want to be able to quickly ramp up and resume services for our customers.

“The Emirates Group has strong liquidity, with a healthy cash position but it is prudent that it take steps to reduce costs at this time. Emirates remains committed to serving its markets and looks forward to resuming a normal flight schedule as soon as that is permitted by the relevant authorities.”

He adds:

“These are unprecedented times for the airline and travel industry, but we will get through it. Our business is taking a hit, but what matters in the long run is that we do the right thing for our customers, our employees, and the communities we serve. With the support and unity that we have seen from our employees, partners, customers, and other stakeholders, I’m confident that Emirates can tackle this challenge and come out stronger.”

Emirates passenger fleet is made up of:

• 115 Airbus A380
• 10 Boeing 777-200LR
• 134 Boeing 777-300ER

In summary – 259 frames will be sitting on the ground. There is no indication that some of these aircraft could operate for SkyCargo as additional capacity. The cargo fleet is made up of11 Boeing 777F aircraft, which are leased.

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