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Interview Scott Lantz, Area Manager of Emirates in Mexico and South America


Scott Lantz joined Emirates in 2014 and currently serves as the Area Manager for Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia and Chile. 

In this role, Lantz oversees Emirates’ day-to-day operations in the region, with a primary focus on commercial development. He was in charge with launching Emirates’ flight to Mexico City, via Barcelona, which started in December 2019.

Lantz, a native of Iowa City, Iowa, USA, graduated with honors from both the University of Northern Iowa (BA – Marketing: Sales and Advertising, 1999) and the Thunderbird School of Global Management (MBA – Global Management, 2008). He speaks English, Spanish and German and enjoys traveling the world. Lantz is currently based in Mexico City.

Dubai is still one of the most popular destinations in the world, when did you resume the Dubai-Barcelona-Mexico route?

Emirates spokesperson:

Our route from Mexico City (MEX) via Barcelona (BCN) to Dubai (DXB) resumed last July 3rd, 2021, boosting connectivity, trade, and tourism. On the other hand, travelers from all over the world will now also be able to visit Mexico by flying with Emirates safely, comfortably and with a premium experience.

What are the frequencies and times of the flight?    

Emirates spokesperson:

  • The route was resume with four weekly services departing from Mexico City (MEX) via Barcelona (BCN) to Dubai (DXB) from last July 3, 2021.
  • Emirates’ flight EK255 departs Dubai at 3:25 am, arriving in Barcelona at 8:35 am, departing again at 10:50 am to arrive in Mexico City at 4:05 pm on the same day.
  • The return flight EK256 leaves Mexico City at 7:40 p.m., arriving in Barcelona at 1:45 p.m. the next day. Then EK256 departs Barcelona the same day at 3:30 p.m. bound for Dubai, arriving at 12:15 a.m. the next day.


Which aircraft does Emirates operate with?

Emirates spokesperson:

The route is operated with a two-class Emirates Boeing 777-200LR offering 38 Business Class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and 264 Economy Class seats. This aircraft offers Emirates’ latest generation seats and cabin interior in both Economy and Business Class.

What changed of the onboard service?

Emirates spokesperson:

At Emirates our priority has always been and will continue to be our passengers and crew, which is why we implemented different measures for them to travel completely safe and secure throughout their journey. Some measures that we have implemented are:

  • Multi-risk travel insurance for the air sector and COVID-19 coverage - We were the first airline in the world to provide this coverage for all our passengers from any country. The insurance covers the entire duration of your return trip, and for those who only fly one way, the insurance covers them for up to 48 hours after they arrive at their final destination. Even the coverage for emergency medical expenses and the assignment of quarantine abroad is covered for 31 days after reaching your final destination.
  • Measures to travel safely from door to door - For the peace of mind of all our passengers, we have implemented measures throughout the travel process to guarantee their safety and that of our collaborators at every step of the journey, on the ground and in the air. These included the distribution of courtesy hygiene kits that contain masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. In addition to the use of advanced HEPA filters that keep the cabin clean and fresh throughout the flight, thanks to the elimination of 99.97% of viruses, germs and allergens.


What security measures and protocols have you implemented at Dubai airport?
 

Emirates spokesperson:

  • The pandemic changed the air travel experience quite significantly, and Emirates was one of the first airlines to map out the full customer journey before it became an industry norm, building in health and safety measures at virtually every touchpoint and leaving no detail to chance.
  • Our commitment to health and safety has allowed our customers to feel safe and confident at every point of their travel journey, and we are already starting to see demand return as our customers have entrusted us to help them get back to the skies.
  • On the ground, we’ve doubled down on our digital approach by fully launching and scaling up our biometric path and a touchless check-in experience, providing further assurance and meeting the evolving expectations of our customers for a safer travel experience. Today, we have 33 biometric checkpoints and close to 50 touchless kiosks across Dubai International Airport.
  • We’ve begin trialing the IATA Travel pass and will be fully rolling it out to all flights. We’ve also tied up with the Dubai Health Authority for digital verification of Covid-19 related medical records, further supporting a seamless, paperless experience for our customers at check-in.


Emirates is one of the first airlines in the world to operate a flight with fully vaccinated first-line crews serving customers at every touch point of the journey, is that correct?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • That's right, reinforcing our commitment to the safety of our passengers and collaborators, in February of this year we were the first airline in the world to operate a flight with fully vaccinated first-line teams, who serve customers in each point of contact for the trip, including the Check-In area, security team, personnel in the boarding rooms, engineers, pilots and cabin crew.


Are you doing free antigen testing for Emirates´passengers?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • All passengers travelling to Dubai from any point of origin (GCC - Golf Cooperation Countries included) must hold a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
  • The certificate must be a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Other test certificates including antigens tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai. Travellers must bring an official, printed certificate in English or Arabic to check in – SMS and digital certificates are not accepted. PCR certificates in other languages are acceptable if they can be validated at the originating station.


Do you have laboratories that test for Covid-19 at Dubai airport?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • Passengers can take a test at Dubai Airport but must remain in their hotel or residence until they receive the test result.


Is Emirates offering any insurance that covers medical and operational expenses for customers who test positive for Covid-19?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • We were the first airline to offer multi-risk travel insurance for the air sector and COVID-19 coverage for all our passengers from any country. The insurance covers the entire duration of your return trip, and for those who only fly one way, the insurance covers them for up to 48 hours after they arrive at their final destination. Even the coverage for emergency medical expenses and the assignment of quarantine abroad is covered for 31 days after reaching your final destination.


Has IATA Travel Pass testing already started simplifying COVID-19 related travel requirements?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • That's right, since April Emirates began testing the IATA Travel Pass, through the mobile application that helps passengers manage their trip easily and securely in accordance with the government requirements of their destination. These actions are a step towards offering more comfortable travel, allowing travellers to digitally manage their documentation related to COVID-19, safely and seamlessly throughout the travel experience. In the future, through this application, travellers will also be able to share vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.


Emirates SkyCargo has supported with the transportation of vaccines to Mexico City, in addition to medical supplies, still supporting?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • Emirates SkyCargo has operated cargo flights to and from Mexico City since 2014 without interruption, completing seven years of operations in the country this month. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo continued its cargo connectivity to Mexico City on cargo flights, bringing much needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 vaccines to the country at the same time, which continued to support mexican exports. Emirates SkyCargo also launched cargo services to Guadalajara in September 2020.


During the pandemic, business trips fell significantly, companies have had to update their travel policies, emphasize traveler care, learn about border restrictions and closures, and in general, about new measures and new protocols for the destination to visit and / or according to the nationality of the traveler, how is Emirates supporting Travel Managers and its corporate travelers in the face of the new reality?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • Emirates will always put people’s health and safety first. Although travel may look a little different, we are confident in our business model and with Dubai as our hub, our proposition is as strong as ever, and Emirates will continue to lead the way in the aviation industry with superior products, service, comfort and network.


What are the conditions for the entry of tourists in Dubai and what is the situation of the city in relation to the operation of hotels, shops and tourist attractions?

Emirates spokesperson:

  • Dubai has been able to efficiently meet the challenges of the pandemic through its proactive approach and efforts to curb the transmission of COVID-19 with wide-ranging precautionary measures to safeguard the health of communities.
  • Dubai had clear, coordinated and detailed guidelines established for the restart of the tourism sector, and today we are enjoying a steady flow of visitors.
  • Dubai’s government has really set an example for the rest of the world with its successful reopening back in July 2020, and we believe we will benefit even further in 2021 and beyond being the first mover in this space. So, when global markets begin to gradually reciprocally open, the city will be ahead of the curve in its attractiveness to visitors.
  • Dubai continues to deliver on its promise to welcome international visitors. A number of business and leisure events have already been hosted in Dubai, including GITEX Technology Week, Gulf Food, Arabian Travel Market and a number of conferences, which is a positive development that demonstrates confidence. Mega-events like Arab Health and other events coming up in the next few months will continue to play a vital role in attracting more visitors and showcasing Dubai as a safe city for international gatherings.  
  • In October 2021, Expo 2020 Dubai will also open its doors to the world and will be another way that Dubai showcases its diverse tourism offering. Emirates will be supporting Expo 2020 by helping to attract visitors from key global markets through marketing and other outreach efforts across our network.

 
What learnings, challenges and opportunities does the COVID-19 pandemic leave Emirates?

 Emirates spokesperson:        

  • Recovery to pre-pandemic passenger levels depends on factors outside our control—including declines in COVID-19 infections, subsequent opening of borders and the recovery of the global economy—as well as other dynamics in how we respond to financial pressures and the changing demand for air travel.    
  • Air travel is a vital part of modern life, so integrated into business, trade, leisure and other reasons for connecting.      
  • People can tolerate temporary suspensions, but the desire to return to the patterns of travel they enjoyed previously will eventually overtake the barriers put in place. 
  • The “bounce back” may take some time – and the road will be uneven and bumpy, but as it did after other disruptions in the past –it will come.

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