AIR SEYCHELLES PUBLISHES UPDATED TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS AHEAD OF RESUMPTION OF INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER FLIGHTS
(Posted 22nd July 2020)
Air Seychelles has issued a new guideline for passengers travelling across the airline’s international network in preparation for the resumption of commercial passenger services, ahead of the reopening of the Seychelles International Airport on 01st of August, 2020.
As part of the new guideline, effective 01st of August 2020, it will be a mandatory requirement for all passengers travelling with the airline to complete a health self-assessment form as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19.
The health self-assessment form which must be completed 24 hours prior to arriving at the airport, will enable the airline to gather important information about the passenger’s whereabouts at the country of origin and the risk of possible contact with COVID-19 cases.
In adherence with the applicable data protection rules, passengers are advised to provide truthful information when completing the form. The airline is also encouraging symptomatic COVID-19 passengers not to report for their flight, as boarding will not be approved. The health self-assessment form is available on the airlines’ webpage at airseychelles.com under the mandatory safety measures section, including the online check-in platform.
The form can also be accessed via the airlines’ sales offices and emailed to crc @ airseychelles.com once completed.
The new guideline communicating about the health and safety procedures to be followed during check-in, boarding, in-flight and upon disembarkation, also reiterates the mandatory requirement of wearing masks on all Air Seychelles flights.
As the health and safety of passengers is the airlines’ number one priority at all times, Air Seychelles is also ensuring its jet fleet of A320neo aircraft departing the Seychelles International Airport undergo a complete disinfection and comprehensive wipe down. The deep cleaning exercise covers all surfaces within the aircraft including the windows, tray tables, seatback screens, armrests, seats, panels, air vents, overhead lockers in the cabin, lavatories and galleys.
To provide added comfort and peace of mind, the Air Seychelles fleet of A320neo aircraft are fitted with HEPA filters which are proven to remove 99.97% of viruses, thus providing a safer and healthier environment for both the passengers and crew.
The new guidance, in time for the airline and other international carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad and Edelweiss – all of which have already announced their return to the paradise islands – is timely indeed and spells out the requirments for passengers to travel, not just from the islands but also to the islands, for whom a #COVID19 negative certificate is required, not older than 72 hours before departure.
On arrival does the Health Department again administer a test while visitors have to provide contact information for follow up, should a test be positive.
This is in stark contrast to for instance Uganda, which is leaving the tourism playing field to neighbours Rwanda and Kenya while remaining shtumm over the intended reopening of the airport and resumption of international scheduled passenger flights.
Aviation sources and pundits are now of the opinion that the continued closure of Entebbe International Airport actively endangers the billion Dollar investment in national airline Uganda Airlines, as airlines in neighbouring countries have already resumed services or are about to relaunch regional and international flights, while the Uganda Airlines fleet – apart from the occasional repatriation flight – remains grounded, costing money but not earning any.
Social media in Uganda are running hot with complaints about this apparent intransigence and there is a growing perception that the Ugandan government does not care about the hundreds of thousands of primary, secondary and tertiary jobs the sector has provided before the pandemic nor appears interested in the loss of billions of US Dollars in tourism revenues as it tries to stick to a misguided approach over the handling of #COVID19.
Watch this space!
