In an effort to stem the spread of the deadly Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic, African governments have begun curbing international flight operations. Thus far, the move has affected several national carriers.
The list is as follows:
The Algerian Government has taken the decision to temporarily suspend all international flights to and from Algiers as of March 18, 2020.
>>UPDATE 18MAR20 Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, has closed the country’s ports of entry and banned all passenger flights as of Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The ban does not affect cargo flights. Camair-Co (QC, Douala) is primarily affected by the move as are foreign carriers serving the West African state.
The Chadian Government has closed all airports and suspended all commercial flights, with the exception of cargo services, effective 0000L on Thursday, March 19. The moratorium will last for a period of two weeks.
Cabo Verde Airlines (VR, Praia) says it will suspend all flights from March 18 for a period of at least 30 days. The move comes after the archipelago’s government decided to ban all flights to Portugal as well as all European countries with Covid-19 cases, the United States of America, Brazil, Senegal, and Nigeria.
The Government of the Horn of Africa state has issued a statement in which it has informed all carriers that all international flights to/from Djibouti will be suspended from March 17 onwards. This affects Air Djibouti, Air France, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Felix Airways, flydubai, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Safe Air, and Turkish Airlines.
Egyptian prime minister Moustafa Madbouly announced that Egypt will be closing its airports and restricting air travel from 1200L on Thursday, March 19, until March 31 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The measure will not affect domestic air services, medevac, or cargo flights, however. EgyptAir (MS, Cairo Int’l) has said it will facilitate return flights until the deadline.
The Equatoguinean Government has restricted the entry/exit of all international flights for a period of 30 days beginning March 15. State-owned CEIBA Intercontinental (C2, Malabo) has since confirmed the suspension of all regional and Madrid Barajas flights effective immediately. Domestic operations remain unaffected, however. Privately-owned Cronos Airlines (C8, Malabo) is also affected by the moratorium.
The Gabonese Government has ordered all carriers operating international flights to/from the West African state to reduce their frequencies to a maximum of one flight per week effective immediately.
Afrijet Business Service (J7, Libreville) will, therefore, suspend all international flights effective 0000L on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Domestic flights are not, however, affected, and will continue as normal, the carrier said.
The Ghanaian Government has issued a travel advisory in which it “strongly discourages” travel to the country until further notice. In addition, effective March 15, only citizens and permanent residents will be allowed into Ghana in addition to travellers that have been to a country where less than 200 COVID-19 cases have been reported.
>> UPDATE 18MAR20 Jambojet (JM, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) has suspended international flights effective immediately. According to the Kenya Airways low-cost affiliate, demand for travel to its only two foreign destinations – Entebbe/Kampala and Kigali – has cratered over the last few days given panic over the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it highlighted that it will still operate domestic flights to Malindi, Ukunda, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret as scheduled.
The partially-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) has banned all international flights, except medevac/emergency, cargo, and domestic flights, with effect from March 16 onwards. However, Flightradar24 ADS-b data shows that as of Tuesday, March 17, international flights to the eastern region of Libya, which is under the control of the Libyan National Army, continue to operate.
The Malagasy Government has banned all flights to/from Europe effective March 19 until April 18. The 30-day embargo also affects flights to the French Indian Ocean possessions of Mayotte and La Reunion. Operators that are affected include Air Madagascar, Turkish Airlines, Air France, and Neos (serving Italy).
>>UPDATE 18MAR20 President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has sealed off the country’s airports to all international traffic, bar cargo flights, from countries with recorded COVID-19 cases from Tuesday, March 17, until further notice. Sky Mali (Bamako) had planned to commence flight operations later this month. Given the new ban, this date has likely been postponed to later in the year.
>>UPDATE 18MAR20 The Mauritanian Government has banned all commercial flights into the West African state effective Tuesday, March 18. Mauritania Airlines (L6, Nouakchott) suspended flights on Monday ahead of the moratorium coming into effect.
The Mauritian authorities have extended travel restrictions for foreign nationals to Mauritius. Any foreign national having resided in or with a history of travel to and from Reunion Island (for travel between March 16 and 30), or any member state of the European Union, UK, Ireland, Switzerland and Norway (for travel between March 18 until April 1) within the last 14 days, will not be allowed entry or to transit in the Republic of Mauritius (including Rodrigues Island).
The Moroccan Government has banned all international passenger flights effective 2359L on Monday, March 16. The ban excludes overflights and cargo flights. Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Int’l) has already announced plans to ground the bulk of its fleet in a cost-saving measure.
Air Namibia (SW, Windhoek Int’l) has terminated its only long-haul route – Windhoek Int’l-Frankfurt Int’l – effective March 15 with operating crew and associated A330-200s having been withdrawn from service to undergo quarantine and disinfection. Namibia has also banned Condor, Ethiopian Airlines, and Qatar Airways following bans on flights from Germany, Ethiopia, and Qatar.
>> UPDATE 18MAR20 The Somali Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has suspended international flights as of March 18, until further notice. The move does not affect humanitarian flights, however.
The South African Government has imposed a travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China as from March 18, 2020. Visas issued to visitors from those countries have been cancelled effective March 15 and previously granted visas are hereby revoked. The move will likely affect South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) and its flights to London Heathrow, Frankfurt Int’l, Munich, Washington Dulles, and New York JFK. In addition, South African citizens have been advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran, and South Korea. This is effective immediately.
>> UPDATE 18MAR20 South African Express (XZ, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has suspended all flights as of 0000L, March 18, until further notice. Although the COVID-19 crisis did the play a role in its accelerated demise, the bankrupt state-owned carrier has also been unable to access capital needed to relaunch its business following years of protracted losses. Last week, SA Express’s business rescue practitioners Phahlani Mkhombo and Daniel Terblanche lambasted the South African Department of Public Enterprises for interfering and undermining their efforts to restructure the state-owned airline. In court documents seen by the Daily Maverick newspaper, the BRPs said they had only been met by “open hostility and aggression” in their dealings with the government. They claimed that the DPE had engaged with creditor Ziegler SA to “persuade them to withdraw the business rescue application”, or remove the two BRPs from restructuring the airline. With no source of revenue, heavy debts, and recapitalisation in sight, SA Express faces the prospect of liquidation.
The Sudanese Government has closed Khartoum and all other airports around the country, including airstrips, effective March 16 until further notice. A NOTAM said only cargo flights and humanitarian flights are permitted to operate on a case by case basis subject to prior request. Domestic flights, including oil service flights, must obtain approval prior to operating.
The Tunisian Government has banned all Chinese, South Korean, Iranian, and Italian citizens from entering the country effective March 15 until April 4. Those that have already secured passage within the next 14 days have been ordered to stay home. The ban also applies to those passengers transiting via Tunis or other Tunisian airports.
Tunisia has now closed its air and land borders and has suspended all international flights as of March 18. Only cargo and evacuation flights will be allowed to operate thereafter.
This article will be updated as events develop.
Editorial Comment: 15MAR20 – Added Namibia, Ghana, Djibouti, South Africa, Tunisia || 16MAR20 – Added Madagascar, Morocco, Egypt, Sudan || 17MAR20 – Added Tunisia, Mauritius, Gabon, Libya, Cabo Verde, Chad, Algeria || 18MAR20 – Added Jambojet, Somalia, South African Express, Cameroon, Mauritania, Mali – 18.03.2020 – 15:36 UTC