Emirates, the super-connector airline, based in Dubai, recently found itself in a situation where they flew just one passenger on a Boeing 777 that would have usually operated for about 350+ passengers, found themselves in a situation where they had just one passenger. This is certainly not new, and other people have found themselves to be alone on a whole plane as well, but I don’t recall a flight being operated with one person in the cabin for a large jet such as the Boeing 777.

The UAE has restricted travel from India on their soil in April 2021. However, flights between UAE and India and v.v. are operating.  On a flight from UAE to India, travel is permitted, and perhaps there is a significant cargo demand.

On the way from India to UAE, however, traffic is thin due to new restrictions. These rules were recently made even stricter. However, apart from UAE diplomats and citizens, added Golden Visa holders to travel on flights from India to the Emirates.

On a recent flight from Mumbai to Dubai, on May 19, 2021, a diamond trader, Mr Bhavesh Jhaveri, found himself the lone passenger on EK501, operated by Emirates. You can see in the video how he was escorted to the plane, and he gets a personalised welcome on boarding the plane. Not just that, the pilot also (jokingly) makes the pre-flight announcement for the passenger 1-1 rather than over the PA, and the passenger tells the crew about how he had chartered a jet during the previous ‘lockdown’ as well.

It’s a crazy day at the office for aviation personnel, who certainly are dealing with the fine line between optimising resources, and on some days, operating a flight with a near-empty plane. The customer, who was flying Economy class on this flight, spent his entire time on the plane catching a nap. Now that is what you call, making the best of what you have.

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