Following the recently imposed electronics ban coupled with visa restrictions, resulting in weakened travel demand, Emirates will be cutting down on its flights to the US.
The airline said in a statement that, starting next month, it would be reducing flights to five of the 12 US cities it currently serves, including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Seattle, Boston and Los Angeles.
“This is a commercial decision, in response to weakened travel demand to the US. The recent actions taken by the US government, relating to the issuance of entry visas, heightened security vetting and restrictions on electronic devices in aircraft cabins, have had a direct impact on consumer interest, and demand for air travel into the US,” an Emirates spokesperson said, in an emailed statement to Gulf News.
The spokesperson added that, Emirates will closely monitor the situation “with the view to reinstate and grow our US flight operations, as soon as viable.”
From May 1 and May 23 respectively, Emirates’ Fort Lauderdale and Orlando operations will move from daily services to five a week.
Its Seattle and Boston operations will move from twice-daily services to a daily service, from June 1 and 2 respectively.
And from July 1, the airline said, its operations to Los Angeles will move from twice-daily to a daily service.
