Airlines face refund pressure on Dubai flight ban

Carriers such as Kenya Airways and Emirates Airline face pressure for refunds after Dubai extended a ban on all passenger arrivals from Nairobi amid a surge in Covid-19 infections.

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) yesterday said the ban on flights from Kenya would stay until December 24. Dubai had earlier this week announced a 48-hour temporary suspension on all flights from Kenya to Dubai on December 20.

The extended ban is likely to lead to ticket cancellations—dealing a blow to airlines that are struggling to stay afloat owing to suppressed travel since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

Passenger ticket sales are accounted for as current liabilities and later recognised as revenue when customers fly or the ticket expires.

“As per the directive from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), all air transport services with inbound and transit passenger movements to the emirate of Dubai from any point in Kenya are temporarily suspended up to and including 24th December,” Emirates Airlines said in a notice on its website.

“Customers will not be accepted for travel on Emirates flights in Nairobi during this time. Outbound passenger operations from Dubai to Nairobi remain unaffected,” it added.

KQ on Monday said passengers affected by the ban would be refunded their money.

“KQ will only carry passengers from Dubai to Kenya as per the directive from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. Any passenger who is affected by the directive and requests for a refund will be facilitated accordingly,” KQ told the Nation on Monday.

The UAE had earlier cancelled flights from Congo last week and also announced new restrictions for passengers coming from four other African nations including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.