UAE airlines offer free cancellation, rebooking, due to coronavirus

Various airlines have announced flexible rebooking options for passengers who wish to cancel or reschedule flights including UAE-based Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Air Arabia, which all said they will offer free cancellation and rebooking. Emirates said it will waive booking fees for passengers who decide to change their travel due to the virus outbreak. This is applicable for tickets issued between March 7-31. “Customers can change their booking to any date, for travel within an 11-month date range in the same [cabin] class without penalties. Difference in fare, if applicable, applies. The policy covers all existing destinations across the Emirates network,” the airline said. Adnan Kazim, Emirates Airline’s CCO, said the carrier “will continue to look at ways to provide flexibility, convenience, and peace of mind” to passengers. Emirates added that with the early school closures across the UAE to limit the spread of coronavirus, the new fee waiver policy is applicable on tickets issued on or before March 4 with travel up to May 31. While airlines normally refund passengers who cancel their bookings, there is a fee for that cancellation. Etihad Airways said it is introducing a fee waiver for guests who are required to cancel their flights or change travel plans because of the Covid-19 restrictions. Such restrictions include travel bans that the UAE, for example, has announced for Emiratis traveling to destinations such as Thailand.<br/>