( 3 minutes read)
· Emirates will resume its flights to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport from tomorrow
· This comes after Dubai-based Emirates was forced to cancel its original resumption flight due to South Africa’s confusing Covid-19 travel regulations
Emirates will resume its flights to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport from tomorrow. This comes after Dubai-based Emirates was forced to cancel its original resumption flight due to South Africa’s confusing Covid-19 travel regulations.
The rules mandated international airline crew, like normal passengers, to have a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for the virus within 72 hours prior to flying to the country. The crew also had to undergo quarantines. South Africa announced these regulations just before the resumption of flights from October 1, 2020.
Lack of clarity forced Emirates to warn that it may have to suspend its flights to Joburg and Cape Town. The South African authorities felt that the other airlines may follow suit.
This led to the transport department clarifying the position, wherein it mentioned that the air crew who are not in possession of a negative PCR certificate would still be permitted entry into South Africa but would not be permitted to move around freely. The clarification also instructed that the crew members are expected to self-quarantine at their hotel.
