Ready for the (travel) rebound!

From flying high to being literally grounded, the airline industry has been humbled by the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, according to a report shared by the IATA (International Air Transport Association), some 58 percent of tourists arrive at their destination by air.

But with the bright summer of 2021, clearer skies dawn for the aviation industry, with vaccinations fueling its rebound. Europe is already reopening for tourism, for certain sectors.

“As vaccines roll out across different parts of the world, we’re optimistic that demand for travel will return, and we are ready to serve the rebound,” says Jaber Mohamed, country manager for the Philippines of Emirates, which has been rated the “safest airline in the world” in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Safe Travel Barometer.

According to the organization, Emirates topped over 230 airlines evaluated worldwide. (Safe Travel Barometer is a comprehensive database of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.)

“The COVID-19 pandemic impacted a lot of people, communities, companies and countries, which has been overwhelming, and the toll it has taken on the aviation sector has been particularly heavy,” Mohamed acknowledges in an online interview with this writer. “Many countries spent 2020 in total or partial lockdown, which meant that air passenger traffic either dropped significantly or was at a literal standstill, and any efforts for any recovery were exacerbated by constant changes in government travel restrictions.”

But instead of being grounded by worries, Emirates sprang into action.

‘As vaccines roll out across different parts of the world, we’re optimistic that demand for travel will return, and we are ready to serve the rebound,’ says Jaber Mohamed, country manager for the Philippines of Emirates.

“We put in a number of measures in place to ensure we bounce back on a stronger footing once travel demand proliferates at pace,” he shares. For flights that were allowed to take off, all cabin crew on board were fully garbed in PPEs.

“To uphold the highest standards of safety and hygiene, Emirates has added a cabin service assistant to the crew complement on flights over 1.5 hours to ensure lavatories are cleaned at frequent intervals of every 45 minutes. All aircraft are deep cleaned in Dubai and go through an enhanced cleaning and disinfection process after every trip. Our HEPA filters clean the air every two minutes and take out more than 99.97 percent of viruses, germs and other microbes to ensure a clean cabin environment,” adds Mohamed, who took on in January this year the post of Emirates country manager in the Philippines.

He added that items such as mattresses, pillows, blankets and headphones are hygienically sealed. All cutlery and crockery are also sterilized before each use.

Mohamed says that Emirates introduced the airline’s industry first multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover. This cover is offered by Emirates on all tickets at no cost to customers. It has also introduced contactless technology at Dubai International Airport, utilizing the latest biometric technology, to ease customers through Dubai airport. Customers also have options to change their travel dates or extend their ticket validity for two years.

He says proudly that Emirates has had a presence in the Philippines for 30 years now. Before the pandemic, Emirates had 25 flights to Dubai!

“At the moment we operate flights to Manila, Clark and Cebu with 12 flights a week across all three cities, and hope to resume to our pre-COVID schedule of 25 flights to Dubai as passenger demand progressively continues to grow,” he says.

***

Mohamed says Emirates has “put in huge efforts into making sure our customers and people are safe throughout their travels via extensive biosafety measures at every touchpoint of the journey.”

With all these measures, will flying Emirates still be affordable?

“Fares are determined by market dynamics, including supply and demand,” Mohamed replies. “We believe our fares are competitive and priced right for the current market, considering what we are offering in terms of products and services, enhanced health and safety measures, and booking flexibility.

“At the moment, we continue to see VFR (visiting friends and relatives) consumer segments, and increasing leisure and business travel is gradually recovering, but remains heavily dependent on the easing of entry requirements.”

Previously the area manager in Taiwan, Mohamed has been with Emirates for over 10 years, starting in a management training program, “through which I gained in-depth knowledge in the aviation industry.”

“My current role is to address the shifting market dynamics and navigate through the complexities and challenges posed by the pandemic, in order to position Emirates as a company that serves customers’ needs. Very few professions are more challenging, more exhilarating or more rewarding than a career in aviation,” believes Mohammed.

He says working with Filipinos is an “honor.”

“I have a strong team in the Philippines, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. It’s an honor to work side by side with them and share the same passion and drive towards Emirates and the industry, and our commitment and loyalty to our passengers is unparalleled.

“We are in an industry which continues to evolve and enriches and enhances all our lives, where you never stop learning,” he adds.

Despite being in an industry greatly challenged by the pandemic, Mohamed has no regrets being where he is now.

“Very few professions are more challenging, more exhilarating or more rewarding than a career in aviation.”

(You may e-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.)