Dubai, March 22 (IANS): Global Airline major Emirates will temporarily suspend majority of its passenger operations from March 25, due to the travel restrictions imposed by several countries to curb the spread of Covid-19.

"As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group said in a statement.

"By Wednesday 25 March, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended most of its passenger operations. We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services."

However, the airline will continue to operate passenger and cargo flights to UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, USA, and Canada until further notice, "as long as borders remain open, and there is demand".

Furthermore, the Emirates Group has undertaken a series of measures to contain costs, as the outlook for travel demand remains weak across markets in the short to medium term.

"A temporary reduction of basic salary for the majority of Emirates Group employees for three months, ranging from 25 per centto 50 per cent," the airline said in the statement.

"Employees will continue to be paid their other allowances during this time. Junior level employees will be exempt from basic salary reduction."