Dubai’s Emirates resumes on-ground services for premium customers from July 1

Dubai carrier Emirates will resume its Chauffeur Drive service (CDS) and airport lounge for premium customers from July 1, following a full health and safety review, it announced on June 30.

Emirates will open one lounge in Terminal 3, Concourse B, at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to serve First Class, Business Class and eligible Skywards members from 10am on July 1.

Guests will access the lounge via biometric gates using facial recognition to reduce contact.

The 9,209-square-metre space at DXB will operate with reduced seating capacity and increased space between each occupied seat to aid social distancing. Masks remain mandatory in the lounge and airport.

Meanwhile, as part of modified lounge facilities and amenities, food will be served in sealed meal boxes, while complimentary beverages, including spirits, will be offered in single serve bottles.

Wine and champagne, served from shared bottles, will be temporarily unavailable. The lounge will be sanitised and fumigated at the end of each day. Meanwhile, each seat and table will be sanitised after each customer leaves, throughout the day.  All lounge employees will wear personal protective equipment (PPE)

Simultaneously, Emirates will also resume its complimentary Chauffeur Drive service for First and Business Class customers in Dubai and other cities on July 1.

The cars in Dubai will be cleaned and disinfected completely at the end of each shift while drivers will wear masks and gloves, whilst ensuring they are fit to work. ‘High touch points’ such as door- and luggage-handles will be sanitised at the end of the trip.

Child car seats are also available on request, disinfected and shrink wrapped after each use. Each car will be limited to three customers while masks are mandatory for passengers in Dubai. Larger vehicles, which can accommodate four passengers, are available on request.

On board, premium customers can access Emirates’ First Class Suites and Business Class lie-flat seats, albeit social areas including the A380 onboard lounge remain closed.

Emirates’ aircraft cabins have been fitted with advanced HEPA air filters which remove 99.97 per cent of viruses and eliminate dust, allergens and germs from cabin air. After its journey and on landing in Dubai, each aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes.

Tourists will also be able to travel to Dubai following the announcement earlier this month that the city will be open for business and leisure visitors from July 7, with new air travel protocols for UAE citizens, residents and tourists.

Read: Dubai to welcome tourists from July 7, unveils new travel protocols for all residents and citizens

Emirates has implemented several precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of passengers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes.

Those looking to travel via the airline will have to meet travel and immigration entry requirements of their destination country.

Visitors to Dubai must have an international health insurance policy covering illness from Covid-19 for the duration of their stay.

Read more: Next few weeks to be a ‘big test’ for aviation industry – Emirates’ Sheikh Ahmed

Emirates’ network of destinations totals 52 cities, facilitating additional travel options through a connection in Dubai.

Also read: Emirates announces flights to more cities in July; network grows to 52 cities