(TAN): Emirates has returned over USD 1.4 billion in Covid-19 related travel refunds to date, towards completing pending refunds, the airline said.
More than 1.4 million refunds requests have been completed since March, representing 90% of the airline’s backlog. This includes all requests received from customers around the world until the end of June, save for a few cases which require further manual review.
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Since the pandemic hit, Emirates has invested additional resources to ramp up its processing capability. The airline also continues to work with industry partners to facilitate refunds for those who have booked their Emirates flights through travel agents, this includes enabling direct refunds processing via global booking systems.
Emirates President Tim Clark said, “We understand that from our customers’ standpoint, each pending refund request is one too many. We are committed to honouring refunds and are trying our utmost to clear the massive and unprecedented backlog that was caused by the pandemic. We are grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding.”
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As global travel markets slowly re-open, Emirates has gradually restarted its passenger operations. The airline has introduced a series of initiatives to ensure safe and hassle-free travel for every passenger. These include flexible booking policies, free Covid-19 medical cover and safety measures at every step of their journey including distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes to all fliers.
Emirates currently offers flights to over 80 cities. Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE).
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