Countries ‘may be removed from SA’s high-risk travel list’ after airline talks

Several European airlines are locked in negotiations with their respective governments, as they lobby to lift restrictions on travel to South Africa. A number of SA’s largest tourism markets are excluded by the ‘high-risk travel list’.

Air France and KLM are amongst the heavyweights asking for lighter restrictions domestically, in the hope that South Africa will ‘reciprocate’ an easing of restrictions. Both France and The Netherlands, the respective homes of these airlines, find themselves on SA’s high-risk travel list, which bans leisure tourists from visiting Mzansi.

High-risk travel list ‘could soon be eased’

General Manager of Air France / KLM for Southern Africa, Wouter Vermeulen, told Tourism Update that the inbound industry will engage European missions and embassies based in South Africa to get the government onside, and thus revise the current high-risk levels imposed on many of the country’s key European source markets.

“Passengers also need to have confidence in the fact that, should travel list regulations change and their flights be suspended, an airline’s terms and conditions are flexible enough that they will not incur serious additional costs when rebooking.”

“Furthermore, passengers also need to have confidence in the fact that, should regulations change and their flights be suspended, an airline’s terms and conditions are flexible enough that they will not incur serious additional costs when rebooking. We are committed to keeping that line of transport open between South Africa, Europe, and the world.”

Wouter Vermeulen on SA’s travel list

Lufthansa flights to South Africa

Meanwhile, Germany’s national carrier Lufthansa has confirmed that it will keep flying to South Africa for the foreseeable future. A number of passengers were denied entry to Mzansi last week, following a misunderstanding over visa rules. The laws on COVID-19 tests also proved to be problematic, but the airline has confirmed that these issues are now resolved:

“Lufthansa Group would like to clarify that Lufthansa will continue to service its FRA-ZA route and has no intentions of cancelling any flights. German tourists are allowed to get a 90-day visa on arrival in South Africa – this remains the same as prior to the pandemic. Crews are allowed to enter SA without negative COVID-19 tests if quarantined in a crew hotel.”

“The whole Lufthansa crew on the first international flight to arrive in South Africa on 1 October had negative COVID-19 tests. Lufthansa respects and adheres to the regulations defined by the South Africa government and with the provided clarification, Lufthansa is confident that it will further support the restart of the South African tourism sector.”

Lufthansa statement