Emirates will refund bookings to Zika areas

The Middle East's biggest airline is offering refunds to passengers booked on flights to countries affected by the Zika virus.
Emirates said in a statement today there is "no impact on operations" for flights from its Dubai base to three South American cities: Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It is nonetheless offering passengers the chance to get refunds or rebook to alternative destinations in the Americas, saying "special provisions have been put in place for customers advised to avoid the affected regions based on CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidance."
The offer covers tickets issued by Jan. 29 for travel through April 30.

Fast-growing Emirates has emerged as a major long-haul carrier, and is the biggest operator of the Boeing 777 and the double-decker Airbus A380.