The UAE has announced that COVID-19 test will be mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving via the country’s airports, irrespective of the countries they are coming from. Children under the age of 12 and those with severe and moderate disabilities will be exempted from the test requirement, which has 96 hours of validity from the date of testing. The decision will come into effect on August 1, UAE Embassy to Azerbaijan told APA. 

The decision to require PCR tests for all passengers reflects the UAE’s determination to establish safe and responsible travel measures, which will protect both passengers and the aviation industry for the duration of the pandemic. These measures have been introduced following extensive consultations between industry leaders, governments, and health authorities. Although not all risks can be avoided, these measures are designed to mitigate risks as much as scientifically possible.

As a leading transport hub, the UAE is determined to play its part in restoring safe global travel and connectivity. With one of the world’s highest testing rates, a low caseload, and stringent health protocols in place, the UAE is one of the safest countries in the world to visit.

Source: https://apa.az/en/foreign-news/UAE-announces-mandatory-PCR-test-for-all-airport-arrivals-326468

In a unique offer, Dubai’s Emirates airline will now cover medical expenses of up to 150,000 euros (Dh638,363) and quarantine costs of 100 euros (Dh425.5) per day for 14 days for passengers should they be diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel while they are away from home.

This service is free of cost to the customers.

This cover for Covid-19 related medical expenses and quarantine costs is offered by Emirates free of cost to its customers regardless of class of travel or destination. This cover is immediately effective for customers flying on Emirates until October 31, 2020 (first flight to be completed on or before October 31, 2020). It is valid for 31 days from the moment they fly the first sector of their journey. This means Emirates customers can continue to benefit from the added assurance of this cover, even if they travel onwards to another city after arriving at their Emirates destination.

Customers do not need to register or fill in any forms before they travel, and they are not obligated to utilise this cover provided by Emirates.

Any impacted customer who has been diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel simply has to contact a dedicated hotline to avail of assistance and cover.

The hotline number, and details of what Covid-19 related expenses are covered, is available on www.emirates.com/COVID19assistance.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group chairman and chief executive said: “Under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Emirates is proud to lead the way in boosting confidence for international travel. We know people are yearning to fly as borders around the world gradually re-open, but they are seeking flexibility and assurances should something unforeseen happen during their travel.”

He added: “Emirates has worked hard to put in place measures at every step of the customer journey to mitigate risk of infection, and we have also revamped our booking policies to offer flexibility. We are now taking it to the next level, by being the first in the industry to offer our customers free global cover for Covid-19 medical expenses and quarantine costs should they incur these costs during their travel. It is an investment on our part, but we are putting our customers first, and we believe they will welcome this initiative.”

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus-pandemic/emirates-to-offer-free-cover-of-covid-19-medical-costs-for-passengers-

Passengers arriving on late-night international flights will be exempted from the nationwide 9 pm-4 am curfew which is aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

The Transport ministry said the exemption would enable airlines to operate smoothly at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) without the inconvenience of the lockdown rule.

“International passengers will be exempted from restrictions on movement past curfew hours when the international flights resume,” the ministry said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on July 6 announced a phased reopening of the country from a Covid-19 lockdown, lifting restrictions on travel in and out of the capital Nairobi and Mombasa and allowing air travel to resume.

The easing out saw domestic commercial and passenger flights restart on July 15, while international travel is scheduled to resume from August 1.

Airlines have nonetheless had to restrict their domestic flight schedules in adherence to the curfew hours—affecting the frequency of services.

This doesn’t augur well for most of the international flights which arrive into the country late-night, especially those from Europe and the Middle East.

Transport Cabinet secretary James Macharia last week also exempted passengers and tourists arriving in the country from mandatory quarantine if they do not show any symptoms of Covid-19.

“All passengers shall be exempted from quarantine on arrival at their destinations if their body temperatures are not above 37.5 degrees Celsius and they do not have a persistent cough, difficulty in breathing and other flu-like symptoms,” Mr Macharia said last week.

The decision is part of a strategy aimed at restoring Kenya’s economy, which has been hit hard by Covid-19, slowing to 2.5 percent growth this year from 5.4 percent previously. Tourism alone, which is one of the key pillars of the economy, incurred losses amounting to Sh85 billion.

The government protocols on commercial air transport released last month require the aviation players to adhere to the highest level of safety for customers and staff.

The rules cover all transport sectors, including the standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger service, which resumed last week. The passenger train currently makes a single return trip from Nairobi to Mombasa at half passenger capacity, with the afternoon train to Nairobi arriving at 6 p.m. in order to beat the curfew hours.

Africa Star Railway Operation Company (Afristar), which operates the SGR, said it had deployed 10 coaches, including eight economy and two first-class, to ferry passengers between Nairobi and Mombasa. One coach had been set aside to cater to suspected Covid-19 cases.

In normal times, Afristar deployed two trains from Nairobi to Mombasa and the same number for the return trip every day. The SGR passenger service, also known as Madaraka Express, was launched on May 31, 2017.

Freight services on the SGR were, however, not interrupted by the pandemic.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/economy/International-air-passengers-exempted-curfew/3946234-5597666-12k6i8q/index.html

Emirates has announced it will resume flights to Tehran (from 17 July), Guangzhou (from 25 July), Addis Ababa (from 1 August), and Oslo (from 4 August), expanding connectivity for customers with these latest cities rejoining its network across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Europe.

This will take the airline’s passenger network to 62 destinations in August, offering customers around the world more convenient connections to Dubai, and via Dubai.

All flights will be operated with the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER and can be booked on emirates.com or via travel agents.

Dubai is open: Customers from across Emirates’ network can now to travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for business and leisure visitors with new air travel protocols that safeguard the health and safety of visitors and communities. For more information on entry requirements for international visitors to Dubai, visit: www.emirates.com/flytoDubai

Flexibility and assurance: With the gradual re-opening of borders over the summer, Emirates has revised its booking policies to offer customers more flexibility and confidence to plan their travel. Customers whose travel plans are disrupted by COVID-19 related flight or travel restrictions, can simply hold on to their ticket which will be valid for 24 months and rebook to fly at a later time; request travel vouchers to offset against future Emirates purchases, or request refunds via an online form on Emirates’ website or via their travel booking agent.

Health and safety first: Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers. For more information on these measures and the services available on each flight, visit: www.emirates.com/yoursafety

Travel restrictions: Customers are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place, and travellers will only be accepted on flights if they comply with the eligibility and entry criteria requirements of their destination countries. 

Source: https://www.rustourismnews.com/2020/07/17/emirates-to-resume-flights-to-addis-ababa-guangzhou-oslo-and-tehran/

The plugin provides travel agencies with the latest information on government restrictions, lockdowns and safety measures across the globe – all within the agent workflow. It is available free-of-charge to all Travelport customers globally, using Travelport Smartpoint 8.2 or above, and can be downloaded directly from Travelport Marketplace.

The new tool provides detailed information on a range of topics, including: lockdown rules, entry requirements and quarantine measures for travelers. Country-level information can be displayed at the click of a button, allowing agents to advise their customers easily and instantly.

Kyle Moore, Global Head of Customer Strategy and Marketing, Travelport, said: “The travel ecosystem today is probably the most complex it has ever been, with government, airline, and hotel policies in every country constantly-changing. We’re making sure our agent partners no longer need to constantly leave their workflow to search for accurate and up-to-date information – greatly improving their efficiency in servicing their traveler customers.”

 The information in the Travelport COVID-19 Smartpoint Plugin is provided by global travel safety intelligence provider, Safeture, and is updated daily. “Our collaboration with Travelport will provide millions of travelers with the information they need to make informed decisions. With travel showing signs of a long-awaited recovery, creating this sense of security will be key to the reopening of economies and societies,” commented Magnus Hultman, Chief Executive Officer of Safeture.

“Working with the Travelport COVID-19 Smartpoint Plugin will allow our consultants to advise our customers with up-to-date destination information regarding this pandemic straight from the Smartpoint desktop. Travelport has turned this around quickly. It is great to know they are listening to the needs of the industry and are prepared to supply new leading-edge tools that can help aid recovery,” said Colin Boddy, Group Commercial Director, Meon Valley Travel Group.

“With the Travelport COVID-19 Smartpoint Plugin, we can provide reliable information to clients on the destinations they’re planning to travel to or through, without leaving the workflow. In this way, we’re able to continue providing a top-class service to clients who can confidently make travel choices and book flights,” commented Scott Pawley, Managing Director, Global Travel Management.

The plugin is the latest Travelport initiative to arm travel agents with the safety information they need and to support a safe, healthy, and responsible return to travel. In recent months, Travelport has:

– Created the travel technology industry’s first COVID-19 Resource Hub; compiling information such travel supplier policy trackers, relevant news, and guides. To-date, the company has registered more than 80,000 visits to the hub.

– Contributed to the formation of various World Travel and Tourism Council protocols aimed at supporting a strong industry recovery.

– Helped airlines to use the Travelport Rich Content and Branding merchandising solution to communicate safety information to travel agents.

– Worked with hotel groups to utilize descriptive space on the GDS screens to communicate safety information.

Source: https://ftnnews.com/technology/39888-travelport-launches-free-covid-19-smartpoint-plugin-for-travel-agencies

Kenya Airways resumed domestic flights with lower fares of Sh4,815 for a one-way ticket to Mombasa and Kisumu from Nairobi after being grounded since April due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Travellers took advantage of the reduced fares, nearly half its earlier charges, with the flights recording a 65 percent cabin load or seat capacity.

KQ, which flies to Kisumu and Mombasa on local destinations, grounded its fleet in April when the government restricted movement in and of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera three to curb the spread of Covid-19.

President Uhuru Kenya announced the easing of the restrictions last week, paving the way for the resumption of domestic flights Wednesday.

International flights will resume from August 1, offering a further boost to Kenya Airways, which had lost an estimated Sh10.6 billion in revenues in the six months to June.

The Sh4,815 fare is a record low for Kenya Airways on domestic routes and

is at par with ticket prices of its low-cost subsidiary, Jambojet. Rival Fly 540, which also resume flights, is charging Sh4,540 on the same routes.

“We saw about 65 percent of the cabin factor today (Wenesday) and there are positive signs that demand would rise,” KQ chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka told the Business Daily Wednesday.

“Kenyans do not typically book in time so it is difficult to tell foreloading (pre-booking.”

The morning and evening flights to Mombasa were fully booked, Kenya Airways said, a signal that the Kisumu route had empty seats.

Resumption of flights, SGR passenger train and long-distance bus travel are expected to boost Kenya’s tourism sector, which has lost Sh80 billion so far in revenue, about half of last year’s total, due to the coronavirus crisis.

The estimated losses include cancelled bookings for the high season months of July-October, said Mohammed Hersi, the chairman of the Kenya Tourism Federation, an industry lobby.

Tourism contributes 10 percent of Kenya’s annual economic output and employs over two million people, most of who have been laid off.

KQ will operate two flights to Mombasa and one to Kisumu every day as it monitors passenger demand.

Before the Covid-19 restrictions, the carrier would operate more than five flights a day on the Mombasa and Kisumu routes.

The low demand for flying started in March when the country registered the first case of the virus.

Mr Kilavuka said they are ready to start international flights in August 1, adding that flight routes will be based on capacity.

Kenya Airways said it plans to reduce the number of routes it serves and the frequency of flights, with passenger demand expected to remain depressed for at least 18 months.

STRUGGLING OPERATOR

The airline currently operates 42 aircraft on routes to 56 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America.

It was struggling long before the outbreak, posting 2019 losses of nearly Sh13 billion compared to Sh7.56 billion the previous year.

The government has been working on a plan to renationalise the airline in an attempt to save the business after a 2017 debt restructuring did little to improve its outlook.

Source: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/shipping/KQ-resumes-local-flights-with-rockbottom-fares/4003122-5593960-kt3diq/index.html

 

Qantas Airways has effectively suspended all international flights from its schedule for the remainder of the year as airlines around the globe continue to contend with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian flag carrier has removed inventory for all international routes—except for a handful into New Zealand—through March of 2021, according to Executive Traveller. When an airline removes inventory, it means flights are no longer available for passengers to book and is usually seen as a precursor to cancellation. So although Qantas’ international routes have not yet been formally canceled, the flights are likely to be officially nixed in coming days.

Qantas Airways CEO Alan Joyce has alluded to the fact that the suspension of international flights could stretch even further into next year. Last month, Joyce said he doesn’t foresee the airline’s international route network significantly relaunching until at least July 2021, according to Australia’s 7News. “We have to position ourselves for several years where revenues will be much lower and that means becoming a smaller airline in the short term,” Joyce told 7News. Currently all Qantas international flights (except New Zealand routes) are canceled through October 2020.

The carrier has also grounded its fleet of double-decker A380 planes—typically used for long-haul international routes—for at least three years, and it has completely retired its six Boeing 747s, another superjumbo jet.

A handful of international airlines, including U.S. carriers, are still flying to and from Australia with cargo and essential travelers on board. Delta, for instance, restarted its Los Angeles to Sydney route on July 1, and United has operated its San Francisco to Sydney route throughout the pandemic. Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways are also currently operating routes between Australia and the U.S., according to the Australian Embassy.

Australia clamped down on the virus early, closing its borders to non-essential travelers and implementing both a ban on overseas travel for its residents and 14-day quarantine for anyone returning the country—and both measures are still in place. Qantas’ looming route suspensions come as many airlines are fighting to restart international operations. Despite a resurgence of the virus in multiple American cities, U.S. carriers such as Delta and United are relaunching routes into Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. United is hoping that by August, it will fly 25 percent of the international flights it operated in 2019.

Source: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/qantas-is-effectively-canceling-all-international-flights-until-march-2021

 

Transport CS James Macharia has flagged off the first Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa at exactly 10.10 am today, three months after flights into and out of the country were suspended. 

Another flight has also landed in Kisumu,

Speaking at the airport Macharia said “We now look forward to the international flights but let’s make sure that these local flights are the benchmark of success. If we don’t do it correctly, the opportunity to fly internationally may be reversed,” he warned.

As early as 5.00 am on Wednesday morning, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi was a beehive of activity as KQ, Jambojet and Safari-link geared up for the resumption of local flights following the suspension of flights due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the cold weather, people from all over strolled in ready to experience the skies again.

KTN News reported that there were already long screening queues as airport authorities sought to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of both the travellers and the crew.

As expected, no one is being allowed into the airport without wearing a mask.

There’s water and soap to wash your hands before the screening process begins, and someone to record your temperature.

The floors are marked with social distancing stickers to emphasize on the need of observing distance whilst you are being served, and stickers reminding you to wear a mask at all times.

Those who were at the airport early Wednesday morning say that the check-in process is slower than usual, what with all the safety measures in place.

Before boarding the plane, the airline crew remind you to keep your mask on.

There will be no social distancing observed inside the planes, instead, passengers will seat next to each other but are required to have a mask on for the duration of the flight. Authorities said that the air conditioning inside the planes is effective enough to ensure air circulation. 

Last week in an announcement, Transport CS James Macharia said that airlines would not have to drastically reduce the number of passengers for them to fly, because if they carried less than 75 per cent of their passenger capacity, they would incur more losses.

All planes have gone through maintenance for the period they were grounded hence you can be assured of standard safety measures.

Since the onset of Covid-19 and the stoppage of flights, the national carrier KQ is estimated to have incurred 100M USD in losses.

It has only been operating cargo and repatriation flights for the last three months.

Tourism CS Najib Balala and other government officials are expected to grace an inaugural ceremony at the Moi Airport in Mombasa County.

The resumption of flights will boost the tourism sector that has incurred huge losses as international flights resume on August 1.

Source: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001378855/reclaiming-the-skies-domestic-flights-resume-today#