Dubai bans Air India Express for 15 days for carrying Covid positive flyer

In August, Hong Kong had banned Air India for two weeks for a similar lapse

Dubai authorities have banned all Air India Express flights for 15 days for carrying a passenger who has been diagnosed with Covid-19.

Following the ban, Air India Express has rescheduled all Dubai bound flights to Sharjah, an airline spokesperson said. The passenger was carried on the Jaipur-Dubai flight on 4 September.

In a letter to the airline, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has said that it is the second instance that the airline has flown a Covid-19 positive passenger.

"You are aware of our previous intimation made to you by our letter dated 2nd September 2020 for boarding a passenger with a Covid-19 positive test result, who endangered the other passengers on board and also caused a serious health risk.

Boarding a passenger with Covid-19 positive test result for the second time is contrary to and is in violation of the laid down procedures and/or protocols relating to air travel to and from airports in the Emirate of Dubai, during the Coronavirus SARS Cov2 pandemic.

Therefore, all operation of Air India Express to Dubai Airports is temporarily suspended, for a duration of 15 days, effective from 18th September until 2nd   October," the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority informed the airline.

In August, Air India was  banned from operating flights to Hong Kong for two weeks for "carrying too many passengers infected with Covid-19.”

The Hong Kong government had acted after 11 passengers on Air India flight 314 from Delhi on August 14 tested positive for the coronavirus, with officials blaming poor preflight testing for the infection.