Dubai Airports has hailed the decision of the Italian government to waive the 10-day quarantine requirement for all categories of traveller from the UAE, in favour of test-based travel protocols, with effect from 2nd June 2021.
All passengers arriving on flights from the UAE to the Italian airports of Rome/Fiumicino, Milan/Malpensa and Venice/Marco Polo will be able to travel to Italy for any purpose.
A negative Covid-19 test result will be required 48 hours before departure from the UAE and, upon arrival in Italy, all passengers over the age of two years will be required to take a rapid antigen test. Provided the test result is negative, travellers are then free to circulate throughout the country without restriction, whereas those testing positive will have to undergo a period of isolation at a Covid-19 approved hotel local to their point of arrival, in accordance with the prevailing Covid-19 protocols.
Praising Italy’s decision as a pragmatic and practical move, Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said: “This is an important step towards recovery from the global pandemic and will give travellers to Europe the opportunity to plan long-anticipated trips to one of the world’s most popular destinations. It demonstrates the confidence that both countries have in their approach to overcoming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and is one of the most significant bilateral travel corridors which are vital to reboot travel. We hope that other countries will follow Italy’s example in leading the global recovery”
Griffiths added, “The pandemic has caused a lot of social and economic damage and devastated millions of jobs across so many industries over the past 14 months. What the world desperately needs now is a safe return to the mobility and connectivity to aid the momentum of economic recovery, based on prudent risk management rather than risk avoidance”.
The UAE-Italy corridor is the latest in a series of travel corridor agreements signed by the UAE including with Greece, Serbia, Seychelles and Bahrain.
About Dubai Airports
Dubai Airports manages the operation and development of both of Dubai’s airports – Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC).
As integrator, Dubai Airports works to balance the interests of all stakeholders to maintain aviation growth, protect operational resilience and ensure that service providers collaborate to provide a safe and secure service and improve the experience of our customers whilst maintaining a sustainable business.
DXB is the world’s number one airport in terms of international passenger traffic and among the top 10 international cargo hubs as reported by Airports Council International.
DXB is certified under ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme.
Dubai Airports, in cooperation with government health authorities and other airport service partners, has taken comprehensive measures to maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of customers and staff across its facilities. These measures include periodic deep cleaning of the airport, facilitating the testing of inbound passengers and vaccination of airport staff, thermal and temperature screening, social distancing markers, providing hand sanitiser stations around the airport, use of protective plexiglass at check-in and immigration counters, availability of PPE and facilities for the safe disposal and handling of biohazard material (PPEs), in addition to increased levels of sanitisation in compliance with international standards as set out by relevant local and federal authorities.
More than 4 million RT PCR tests have been conducted at DXB, while 110,000 airport staff including nearly 80% of Dubai Airports employees have also been vaccinated at the airport’s vaccination centre.
Featured image credited to Dubai Airport
