Overview:
Passengers holding confirmed bookings on the suspended flights will be re-accommodated on alternative carriers where possible or rebooked on future Uganda Airlines flights at no additional cost once operations resume.
Uganda Airlines has “temporarily suspended” all scheduled flights between Entebbe International Airport and Dubai International Airport (DXB) following the closure of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace.
Dubai Airports, the agency that manages DXB and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) confirmed that the airports were temporarily suspending all operations “until further notice” without further explanation.
It advised passengers are not to travel to the airport and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights.
Following the announcement, Uganda Airlines management said it was committed to minimizing disruption by offering remedies to affected passengers.
Passengers holding confirmed bookings on the suspended flights will be re-accommodated on alternative carriers where possible or rebooked on future Uganda Airlines flights at no additional cost once operations resume.
The passengers also have the option to change their travel plans to a later date.
”We are contacting passengers directly by phone and email with specific details about their revised travel arrangements,” says the statement by the national carrier. “Passengers who booked through travel agents are advised to contact their agents for assistance.”
The statemenet urges all passengers scheduled to travel on this route to check their flight status on the company’s official website, www.ugandairlines.com or contact our call center before departing for the Airport.”We sincerely regret the disruption to your travel plans and appreciate your understanding as we navigate this situation beyond our control; we will provide further updates once the airspace reopens and normal scheduling resumes.”
Uganda Airlines operates 4 flights per week to Dubai on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Uganda Airlines has two Airbus A380-800neos it operates the three long haul routes: London Gatwick, Dubai and Mumbai. However, currently, according to the national carrier, both aircraft have been grounded, one since January and the second since February 20, for unscheduled maintenance (repairs).
The airlines has been rebooking passengers who had already booked on the routes, with partner airlines or on other available options.
Iran launched multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting the UAE (including sites in Dubai and Abu Dhabi) on Saturday, in retaliation for earlier joint US-Israeli strikes on its own territory.
These strikes primarily aimed at US military facilities in the UAE (such as Al Dhafra Air Base), but impacts and debris affected civilian areas as well.
Several other international airlines, including Emirates, have suspended flights to not only Dubai, but several middle eastern countries which have closed their airspaces due to the conflict. They include Air France/KLM, Turkish, Air India, Qatar and British Airways.
Countries which have closed their airspaces include UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, and Iran itself.
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