UAE: Alcohol Consumption Not Prohibited On Emirates. A Passenger In A Car Driven By Someone With Alcohol In Their Blood Will Get Arrested.

Dubai flights have worried passengers when it comes to serving alcohol mid-flight.

British passenger Dr Ellie Holman was arrested after landing at the airport in the UAE and was found to have alcohol in her bloodstream.

She confirmed that she had a glass of wine during the flight that was offered by the airline.

Emirates has made statements regarding their alcohol rules.

Emirates customers have complained in regards to alcohol consumption.

One woman asked: “Dear @emirates and @British_Airways, am I in danger of getting arrested on a flight to the #UAE if I order alcohol?

Another asked: “Could you clarify if I can drink alcohol in the lounge and during a connecting flight from BHX to BKK. The Embassy are now saying it's illegal to consume whilst transiting through DBX.”

Emirates responded by saying - Alcohol consumption is not prohibited on our flights.

Furthermore alcohol is also served in the lounged in Dubai airport and available for purchase in the Duty Free.

Emirates continues to invest in our food and beverage programme, which is an integral part of our inflight experience, says an Emirates official.

However, like on any other airline, or indeed any hospitality establishment, unruly or disruptive behaviour from intoxication will not be tolerated, and there may be legal consequences.

The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew on board will always be our top priority, Emirates said.

The British Embassy in the UAE warned Britons travelling to the country in regards to drinking alcohol.

They said it is a punishable offence to be under the influence of alcohol in public, including when transiting through the UAE.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns that Passengers in transit through the UAE under the influence of alcohol may also be arrested.

Dubai is popular with British travellers for the cheap flights on offer and good weather all year round.

UAE has recently announced new changes for tourists in regard to transit visa, allowing longer in the country, and free visas for children in a tourism drive.

However strict rules in regards to other substances such as drugs and relations between men and women should be checked before travelling.

A strictly Muslim country, some tourists have found themselves in trouble when participating in activities that are allowed in the UK.

Earlier, Dubai tourists were warned against drinking alcohol on flights when travelling to the country following the arrest of a British mother who drank one glass of wine on an Emirates flight.

Dubai flights often serve alcoholic drinks inflight as it is not illegal to drink in the air.

It is but illegal to be drunk in public in Dubai.

The British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued the warning to Britons travelling to the country.

They warned, if caught carrying or drinking alcohol without a licence or with alcohol in your blood you can be arrested.

The warning follows the arrest of Ellie Holman, who was detained when landing and was found with alcohol in her blood.

It is a punishable offence to be under the influence of alcohol in public-including when transiting through the UAE.

It can result in custodial sentences and/or fine but other offences committed while drunk will be heard separately.

Take care to respect local customs, behave respectfully when consuming alcohol.

There is zero tolerance for drink driving in the UAE. You can be arrested as a passenger in a car driven by someone with alcohol in their blood.

Tourists cannot buy a license for alcohol, and so must only drink in areas which carry a license.

Passengers in transit through the UAE under the influence of alcohol may also be arrested.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of human rights group detained in Dubai, said: In light of the FCO’s announcement, we will be contacting all airlines who transit to or through the UAE to clarify their position on serving alcohol to passengers.

Either the UAE will need to reform their laws urgently, or the airlines will need to update their policy to ensure the safety of customers.

Dr Ellie Holman was imprisoned for three days in Dubai after being asked if she had consumed alcohol on the flight.

She said she was very pleased the Foreign Office had changed the travel warning for British tourists.

Dubai has recently been encouraging British tourists to visit by offering free transit visas as well as free children visas every summer.

Flights to the UAE destination can be as cheap as £350 return when travelling abroad on holiday.

However, a number of tourists have come into trouble due to the strict laws.

Jamie Harron was sentenced to a month in prison last year for drinking alcohol, after being accused of indecently touching another man.

The man said he touched his hip in the bar, something Mr Harron said happened when he tried to walk past while carrying drinks.

Despite paying £32,000 in legal fees and losing his job, the British tourist said he would go back to the country.

A passenger was jailed in Dubai after drinking alcohol on a flight when travelling to the country on holiday with her family, but is it against the law to do so?

A passenger flying from the UK to Dubai was jailed after landing when she drank a glass of wine on the flight.

Dr Ellie Holman, 44, from Kent, was travelling with her four-year-old daughter when she was given a glass of alcohol on an Emirates flight.

When she landed, she was jailed due to public intoxication.

But is it against the law to drink on flights when travelling to Dubai?

Flights to and from Dubai will often serve alcohol, such as Emirates and Etihad.

Some flights will be dry depending on the carrier, and which country it is based such as Kuwait Airways and Egypt Air who do not serve alcohol.

While it is not banned to drink onboard if it is served, it is illegal to be drunk in public in Dubai, also known as public intoxication.

The Foreign Office warns: “You should be aware that it is a punishable offence under UAE law to drink or be under the influence of alcohol in public.

“Passengers in transit through the UAE under the influence of alcohol may also be arrested.”

This means, if a passenger has landed after having had an alcoholic drink, they could be breaking the law if alcohol is found in the blood in tests.

Drinking in Dubai is not prohibited across the country, but alcohol must only be confused in licensed venues such as hotels and restaurants.

Being drunk and disorderly is against the law and could see long jail sentences.

Dr Holman, who has been in jail since July, could face being imprisoned for a year.

She said my passport remains confiscated until the case is settled, which I have been told will take at least a year.

It has reportedly cost her more than £50,000 in legal fees and missed work: My practice is closed. All our savings have gone.

A number of tourists have been jailed or fined while on holiday in Dubai for breaking local laws.

Jake Harron, 27, from Scotland, was arrested for public indecency last year after putting a hand on a man’s hip in a bar while walking past with a drink

He was sentenced to three months in prison after spending £32,000 in legal fees, which was eventually overruled.

Caren Harmon, 43, was detained in the country last year after being accused of taking illegal drugs on the flight.

She was subjected to a number of tests, which were found to be negative and she was released after three and a half hours.

Jamie Harron, 27, from Stirling in Scotland, has had his passport taken away from him and faces a three year sentence over the allegations that he touched a businessman’s hip in a bar in Dubai.

The electrician has been convicted and sentenced in advance of his trial on public indecency for drinking alcohol in the Alcohol free zone.

A spokesman for prosecution service in Dubai said: On the drinking charge, he has been sentenced to a month in jail, fined 2,000 dirhams (£412) and will be deported.

His next appearance on the public indecency case is on October 22.

Mr Harron has admitted that he placed his hand on a man’s hip to ensure that they would not bump into each other and spill their drinks.

However, he has said it was a cultural misunderstanding and he has denied indecency.

Following the incident in the bar, he was arrested and jailed for five days before being released on bail.

Mr Harron has been stuck in Dubai for the last three months and spent more than £32,000 in expenses and legal fees in a bid to resolve the issue.

Mr Harron said: I never knew how much stress I could endure until this happened and the waiting game is the worst.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained In Dubai, the British-based NGO who is leading the campaign to help Jamie, said: Jamie's case is not about knowing the law. He followed the law and has witnesses to support him.

This is a case of false and spiteful allegations being made against Jamie and the way that Dubai authorities have responded.

The complainant in this case has no evidence of any crime being committed but Jamie has been stuck in the UAE for more than three months.

Regarding the alcohol charges, of course, he was drinking, everyone was.

He was in a licensed bar. Informing tourists of the law does not help, when the entire enforcement system in the UAE needs an overhaul.

His father, Graham, said: We can't believe that this nightmare has gone on for three months. Jamie is a good boy. He has never been a problem and never in trouble.

We are a very close family and it is killing us to think of him spending even three nights in jail, let alone three years.

Mr Harron had been working in Afghanistan and was on a two-day stopover in Dubai when the incident happened.

British government warned tourists flying to Dubai not to drink alcohol on flights or they risk jail after a mum was locked up for having a glass of wine on a journey to the United Arab Emirates.

The warning, which came on the UK in the United Arab Emirates Facebook page, warned Britons it is a punishable offence to be under the influence of alcohol in public - including when transiting through the UAE.

The British Consulate said that people should take care to respect local customs and behave respectfully when consuming alcohol.

The warning also said: If caught carrying or drinking alcohol without a licence or with alcohol in your blood, you can be arrested.

It is a punishable offence to be under the influence of alcohol in public - including when transiting through the UAE.

It can result in custodial sentences and/or a fine.

They told the UK expats that they would need to apply for a licence before they can drink alcohol, which only non-Muslims and non-tourists are able to obtain.

Millions holiday in the UAE every year and they should not be put in harms way by Emirates and other airlines and suffer like I and my family did.

Either the UAE will need to reform their laws urgently, or the airlines will need to update their policy to ensure the safety of customers.

The travel advice says: The UAE is a Muslim country. Laws and customs are very different to those in the UK. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times. There may be serious penalties for doing something that might not be illegal in the UK.


Tourism Observer

MOROCCO: Royal Air Maroc (RAM) To Commence Flights To East African Region

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) plans to launch flights to five other East African cities only two years after it began its Casablanca-Nairobi flights.

Country manager Othman Baba said the move, inspired by Nairobi experience, is part of Royal Air Maroc, RAM’s efforts to claw back a share of the intra-African aviation transport which is currently controlled by foreign interests.

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) which joined the 23-member single African air transport market (SAAM) last year, has said it will ride on the continental aviation framework, to speed up regulatory approvals.

It is so far the only North African airline that runs a direct Nairobi—Ndjamena (Chad) flight.

We will be extending operations in East Africa in in the short-term with new destinations like Dar es Salaam, Harare, Kigali, Maputo and Khartoum,said Mr Baba as RAM celebrated its 33rd flight on Nairobi-Casablanca route on Thursday.

With more than 30 destinations in West Africa, it is only natural that RAM has decided to spread into East Africa to sustain its African strategy and underscore Kenya as a regional business hub and gateway.

Mr Baba said exploring new destinations for its clientele has been RAM’s mission since it was formed over 60 years ago.

The airline, which began its Kenyan foray with two weekly fights in 2016, has since adjusted its schedule to three fights a week.

RAM, together with Kenya Airways, Ethiopian, South African and Egypt air are collectively referred to as Africa’s Big Five.

In a continent where state carriers have been blamed for exorbitant fares that drive Africans to foreign airlines, Air Maroc says its key success point remains its low ticket prices.

Mr Baba said RAM has over the years maintained strict control over its costs structure and processes, resulting in lower ticket price and cargo tariffs especially in the last 15 years.


Tourism Observer

EgyptAir Training Center & Rwand Air Partner

Egypt Air Training Center hopes to expand its training capabilities in the African continent after being in a co-operation with Rwand Air.

The training centre was recently in discussions with Rwand Air to discuss ways of mutual cooperation, and meet the airline’s training needs in the field of of engineers, pilots and cabin crew, air cargo and security by Egyptian trainers.

A delegation from Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority identified the available capabilities within Egypt air training Center, including simulators for the Airbus – A320 A330-A340 and Boeing B777 / B737-800 , as well as the training of the cabin crew on the emergency ” CEET ” and providing services on the ” CST ” , in addition to the training of maintenance engineers of modern aircraft ,and also the advanced studying classes which are in accordance with the advanced methods.

Nigerian Airlines Record 5,399 Flights

The eight domestic airlines currently operating in Nigerian airspace recorded 5,399 flights, with 3,029 of the flights between January and March 2016 delayed and 120 cancelled.

The 5,399 flights bore a total of 714,137 passengers broken into 346, 579 inbound passengers and 367, 558 outbound passengers.

The figures were contained in a summary reports of complaints received against international and domestic airlines for the month of January, February and March 2016, as documented by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

For the period under review, a total number of 1,282 flights operated on international routes with total number of inbound passengers recorded by the 35 international carriers standing at 221,136 and 242, 711 outbound passengers.

Understandably, Arik Air recorded the highest number of local flights.

The airline operated 1, 779 flight in the month of February 2016; 866 flights delayed; 28 cancelled flights. The company had a total number 98, 010 total number of inbound passengers and 102, 103 outbound passengers.

For the month of January, a total of 1, 282 flights were operated by 35 airlines on international roiutes. The airlines are Aero, African World, Air Cote d'Ivoire, Air France, Alitalia, Altas Air, Arik, ASKY, British Airways, Camair-Co, Cronos Air, Dana, Delta Air, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Air, Etihad, Gambia Bird, Iberia, Kenya Airways.

Others are KLM, Lufthansa, Max Air, Medview, Middle East Airlines, Qatar, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordan, Rwandair, Saudi Air, Sudan Air, South African Airways, Turkish Air, United and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The report shows that Nigeria's flag carrier airline, Arik Air expectedly tops the chart with 205 flights, 96 delays, three cancelled flights, 27, 791 total number of inbound passengers, 33, 055 number of outbound passengers, 28 unresolved complaints and compensation.

French carrier, Air France ranks highest with the highest number of pilferage and discourtesy. A total of 104 cases involving passengers luggage pilfered were reported and documented.

The French carrier 81 flights in January, 31 delayed flights, no cancelled flights with 133 unresolved complaints and inability to compensate travellers.

The airline had a total number of 17, 294 inbound passengers, 18, 197 outbound passengers and 361 missing baggage found.

Dubai based Emirates Airlines has the highest number of inbound and outbound passengers.

The airline recorded 35, 774 inbound passengers and 36, 627 total number of outbound passengers, making the airline the highest revenue earner to Nigeria, followed by British Airways.

For the month under review, all the international airlines operated 1, 251.

They recorded 489 delays, eight cancellations, 571 missing baggage, 275 pilferage, 1, 23, 572 inbound passengers and 138, 855 outbound passengers.

On domestic route, Aero Contractors operated 840 flights in February.

The airline recorded 557 delays, 28 cancelled flights, 56, 186 total number of inbound passengers and 60, 227 outbound passengers.

For March 2016, a total number of 1, 508 flights operated on international routes while 4, 892 flights operated on domestic routes.

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Eyes New York For Mid 2016 Launch

The doubling of the long haul fleet by Ethiopian Airlines in the space of just five years has laid the foundation for a global expansion in destinations in Asia, Europe and North America. With the upcoming delivery of 14 Airbus A350’s to Ethiopian Airlines starting next year, and an almost imminent decision to add as many as 20 more wide body aircraft to their order list will the number of wide body aircraft, when delivered, boost the airline’s capacity for long haul flights yet further, putting an even greater distance between them and Africa’s other leading airlines.

The decision about the aircraft type seems limited to either more Airbus A350-1000 variants or else Boeing’s B777X and is expected before the end of the year.

The fleet overhaul is of some importance as the aged Boeing B767 fleet needs urgent phasing out while the rest of the existing wide bodies, apart from the B787’s, require to a large part retrofitting to install flatbed business class seats, to be able to compete on the cabin product, important for both premium passengers and code share partners alike.

New routes already announced, like New York in June 2016, ET’s third US destination after Washington and the more recently launched service to Los Angeles, via Dublin, and projected flights next year to Vietnam – rival Kenya Airways is currently the only African airline offering flights to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) plus yet more destinations in China and South Asia will further cement the airline’s position as Africa’s leading airline.

Already is there speculation of more US destinations like Chicago and Houston though it is not known if the additional services will, like LA, also operate via Dublin from where Ethiopian enjoys fifth freedom rights into the United States. Nonstop flights to the US, out of Addis Ababa, are an eternal challenge due to the elevation of the airport which curtails payloads and makes a stop enroute almost mandatory.

On the continent of Africa is Ethiopian also not letting up and a new service to Yaounde is once more pitting ET against perennial rival Kenya Airways which has been serving the Cameroonian capital for some time. Other major African airlines, like South African and Egypt Air, both also harbouring thoughts for continental supremacy, are like KQ struggling with a string of poor financial results which has restricted their ability to match if not outpace Ethiopian for new destinations and fleet expansion.

The predictable outcome of that scenario is all playing into the hands of Ethiopian, which is literally free of union troubles – a major bane especially for Kenya Airways – and enjoys the full backing of the Ethiopian government inspite of the country’s recent cash crunch.

These factors, apart from competitive pricing for travelers ready to fly via Addis Ababa, are seen as key elements to the success of Ethiopian to become Africa’s first global carrier, able to hold its own against both the legacy airlines in Europe and America but more important, the Gulf giants which have otherwise taken the African aviation market by storm.