Brazilian repatriation plane leaves OR Tambo with 321 passengers

The first group of tourists who have been left stranded in South Africa during lockdown, have taken off on a flight home. 

A LATAM Airlines flight heading for Sao Paulo, Brazil, left OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday 1 April with 321 Brazilian passengers on board. 

Airport Company South Africa (Acsa) group executive for corporate affairs Refentse Shinners said that the operation to repatriate the tourists had been successful. 

“We are very grateful to our staff and the various role-players who moved quickly overnight to ensure the successful facilitation of this repatriation flight,” she said 

“We are especially appreciative of the work done by officials of the Brazilian Embassy who managed the process exceptionally well and ensured that the passengers were safely transferred to the airport by bus,” she added.

Turnaround crew 

The crew of the LATAM aircraft did not disembark in South Africa, and a support crew of a further 16 people were on the plane ready to switch shifts.

“The 16 crew members for the flight into South Africa therefore returned to Brazil as passengers.”

Thousands more to be repatriated  

This first group of foreigners getting out of South Africa, might spark an exodus, as thousands of other tourists stuck in South Africa are negotiating with their embassies to arrange similar repatriation procedures. 

German tourists stuck in lockdown are desperate to return home, while there are also an undisclosed number of US citizens in South Africa looking to catch a flight. German ambassador to South Africa Martin Schäfer said that they will partner with South African Airlines (SAA) to get his compatriots home. 

“We do have a strong partner in SAA, who is willing to help us with the repatriation flights and we rely now on the assistance and the help of the South African government to make sure that our people can make it to the airport and can be flown out.

“We are in discussions with the SA government. Of course, the lockdown poses some difficulties for us . People who have symptoms; people who are positive; people who are sick with the corona will have to stay in SA and will have to be treated here.”