1. Temporary refusal
Air passengers travelling on A380 planes from Emirates won’t be allowed to enjoy the on-board bar and lounge, the airline announced, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19. “In light of health and safety considerations, Emirates has temporarily modified some aspects of our onboard service,” said an Emirates spokesperson.
Our onboard lounge and social area will not be available to customers at this time. The safety of our customers and crew is of the utmost importance and will not be compromised.
Emirates spokesperson
Before the decision to halt access to the on-board lounge, passengers travelling in first or business class could use the reserved area, which offers snacks and drinks throughout the flight. The lounge allocates up to 26 people and it’s located on the upper deck of the aircraft.
2. Airport lounges remain open
Despite temporarily closing on-board lounges, Emirates announced it will be reopening more than 120 lounges in more than 20 airports by February. The airline informed that travellers with a premium ticket, as well as Skywards members in select membership tiers, will have access to the premium lounge experience.
3. Emirates’ sanitary measures
As a result of the pandemic, Emirates decided to change to its on-board operations, like many other airlines. The airline said it cleans and completely disinfects all aircraft departing from its hub in Dubai. Additionally, all of its planes are equipped with HEPA cabin air filters, which filter out more than 99% of viruses. Cabin crew wear personal protective equipment including masks, gloves and disposable gowns.
Depending on specific local requirements in each market, either buffet service or a la carte dining is offered to passengers and only contactless menus are available via one’s smartphone. Special seating arrangements have been made to ensure social distancing guidelines are met.
4. Retrofit programme
At the 2021 Dubai Airshow in November, Emirates announced a major retrofit programme, in which 52 of its existing A380 aircraft will be upgraded to premium economy cabins and other enhancements. Such move highlights the airline’s ongoing commitment to ensuring its A380 experience remains best-in-sky.
Emirates said it had resumed operations to over 90% of its pre-pandemic network. The notorious airline said in a press statement that it carried 15.8 million passengers in 2020, safeguarding its reputation as the largest international airline in that year.
