Most Americans who requested assistance have declined assistance when offered, opting either to remain in country or book commercial flight options. The State Department contacted almost 9,000 Americans in the United Arab Emirates to offer seats on U.S. government charter flights, but many of those flights departed with empty seats due to limited interest.
Requests for planes are probably up 200-300% on what's usual for this time of year. We're going gangbusters. While the company does not automatically inflate prices at times like this, the fact that demand outstrips supply means that its prices are aligned with the current market rate.
Emirates passenger Jaiveer Cheema, who was set to fly back home to the US on Saturday, told Business Insider that he was stuck on his plane for five hours with no food before everyone was deplaned and shuffled into the crowded terminal at Dubai International. The next several hours at the airport were chaos as no one knew what to do.
