ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, on Thursday resumed regular flight operations to the United Arab Emirates with new rules to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The rate of COVID-19 cases has been rising fast in Pakistan, with 4,983 deaths and 240,848 infections as of Thursday morning. 

“Now PIA passengers will be able to travel from Pakistan to Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and vice versa, through the airline’s regular flights,” the PIA spokesperson said in a statement.

However, he said passengers would now be required to get tested for coronavirus 48 hours prior to flight departure and a negative test report would have to be presented at the time of check-in. Passengers would also be required to fill a health declaration form online.

PIA has been operating one-way relief flights to repatriate Pakistanis stranded in the Emirates but now had permission to operate regular flights again, the statement said.

“Passengers can book and purchase their tickets through PIA Offices, Corporate website and its travel agents,” PIA said.

Earlier this month UAE airline Emirates resumed flights to Pakistan after a brief suspension but made coronavirus clearance obligatory for all passengers, including asking that passengers from Pakistan carry a negative COVID-19 report from a laboratory approved by the airline.