Air Canada resumes non-stop flights to Dubai as Covid-19 case numbers fall

Canada remains closed to tourists, with three days of mandatory hotel quarantine required for anyone flying to the country

Air Canada is resuming direct flights between Toronto and Dubai from June 3. Courtesy Air Canada

Air Canada is resuming direct flights from Toronto to Dubai.

The flag carrier of Canada will restart flights to the UAE on Thursday, with three services per week operating between the countries.

Flights will operate to Dubai on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Return services leaving for Toronto will depart Dubai International Airport on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Air Canada will operate the service via its Boeing Dreamliners, with outbound fares for the 13 to 14-hour journey starting from $912 (Dh2,779) Canadian dollars.

Air Canada originally suspended flights to Dubai and several other international destinations in February due to the global pandemic. The restart gives those hoping to travel between the UAE and Canada one more option to do so.

Emirates also operates direct flights between Toronto and Dubai. The airline operates four flights per week on this route, with fares starting from Dh4,025.

From Abu Dhabi, travellers flying to the capital of Ontario can go with Etihad. The national airline of the UAE flies non-stop to Toronto, with fares from Dh3,985.

In response to the global pandemic, Air Canada is currently offering flexible tickets on all new bookings, with the ability to make a date change or request a refund without paying any penalties.

Canada remains closed for tourism

The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to advise travellers to avoid all non-essential travel outside the country.

Canada is currently only welcoming its residents, citizens and those with an essential reason to visit, including reuniting with family members, into the country. It remains closed for leisure travel.

All travellers flying to Canada must complete three nights of mandatory hotel quarantine in government-authorised accommodation. There are 18 approved airport hotels for travellers to select from, located in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.

The exact cost of quarantine varies depending on the hotel you stay in, but starting prices average at about $1,300 (Dh3,962) for two adults, including meals. Travellers must reserve and pay for three full nights of quarantine, although may be allowed to leave early if they receive a negative Covid-19 test result on the second day.

Yesterday, Canada confirmed 2,118 new cases of Covid-19. While case counts continue to drop across much of the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada won't be rushed into reopening its borders for non-essential travel.

"We’re on the right path, but we’ll make our decisions based on the interests of Canadians and not based on what other countries want,” Trudeau said at a news conference in Ottawa on Monday.