covid-19 – XL MILLENNIUM

Lockdown Level 1

The National Coronavirus Command Council announced that South Africa will move to Level 1 of the Risk Adjusted Strategy as of 21 September 2020.
This means that all domestic interprovincial travel will continue for business and leisure purposes.

International travel movement will open from 01 October 2020 subject to further regulations and conditions.
• Domestic flights for business and leisure purposes are available from all commercial airports in South Africa.
• All hotels and accommodation establishments are allowed to operate within the stipulated legislation.
• Restaurants, take-aways, and food establishments will continue to be open for delivery and collection of food. Sit-down meals are allowed with strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures. All restaurants must adhere to the curfew of 00:00. Alcohol sales is permitted in line with stipulated legislation
• Professional services such as tourist guides, tour operators, travel agents and tourism information officers including training of nature guides and other related services can continue in their current environments.
• All restaurants, fast food outlets and coffee shops; hotels, lodges, bed and breakfast, time share facilities, resorts and guest house, conference and meeting venues including casinos will provide detailed training for their staff and inform staff of their responsibility to advise the employer if they are tested positive for Covid-19 or have been in contact with someone who is Covid-19 positive.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL

• All domestic flights for business and leisure are available from all commercial airports within the borders of South Africa.
• Only passengers will be allowed inside the terminal buildings.
• Temperature screening will be conducted at terminal building entrances before any passenger is allowed entry. All passengers must wear masks.
• Car rental companies are allowed to operate.
• Long-distance public transport is allowed to operate for inter-provincial travel.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

• International travel will open on 01 October 2020.
• Travel may be restricted to and from certain countries that have high infection and transmission rates.
• International business travel from those countries deemed ‘high-risk’ may be allowed with approval from Home Affairs.
• The list of permitted and prohibited countries will be based on the latest scientific data and updated accordingly. This list will be published before 01 October 2020
• Johannesburg’s OR Tambo, Durban’s King Shaka and Cape Town International Airports are the only airports that will allow international air travel to arrive or depart.

TRAVELLERS ENTERING SOUTH AFRICA

• Eligible travellers must show a negative test for COVID-19 that is less than 72 hours old, and will be asked to install a government contact tracing app
• Those who arrive without a negative result must remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost
• On arrival, everyone will undergo a health screening, and people showing COVID-19 symptoms will be quarantined until they test negative
• South African missions abroad will open for visa applications, and all long-term visas will be reinstated. Contact your local South African High Commission for more information.

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LOCAL RESTRICTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

• Nationwide lockdown began on 26 March, and the State of Disaster has been extended to 15 October.
• A risk-based, five-level approach to easing lockdown restrictions is being rolled out. The country has moved to Alert level 1 from 21 September. Restrictions include curfew hours and limits on public gatherings, and you must follow the advice of authorities.
• A curfew is in place from 12am (midnight) to 4am, and cloth face masks are mandatory in public across South Africa.

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

From social distancing at the airport, boarding procedures, hygiene on the busses to the regulations of onboard health and safety, Airlink has it all. Please click the link below to view all the protocols.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL

AIRPORT PARKING

If you are travelling from or to O.R. Tambo International Airport
• Drop-off and Pick up, including taxis and ride hailing, are confined to Level 2 in Multi-Storey Parkade 1 (MSP 1 L2)
• The upper and lower roadways are closed to all traffic, except for official vehicles.
• If you plan to leave your car at the airport, follow the signs directing you to the car park.

VIEW ACSA WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

THERMAL SCREENING

Public health authorities* require that we all have our temperatures checked several times during our journeys. For this purpose, dedicated personnel at the airports have been equipped with infra-red digital thermometers. These devices are calibrated and do not rely on physical touch.

• You will be temperature screened as you enter and exit the airport and possibly again before reaching the check-in counter.
• For your safety and theirs, our check-in agents will be wearing face shields/ cloth masks and sit behind transparent protective screens. They will ask you some questions about your recent and current health.
• Your temperature might be measured again at the boarding gate and once more on arrival at your destination.
• If, at any screening point, your temperature is higher than 37.5°C, you will not be allowed to board your flight.
*CAPSCA (Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation)

The process to access the terminal building and check in will take much longer than before. Passengers should plan to arrive at the airport earlier in to be at the designated check in counter (domestic travel) 2 hours prior to departure. We recommend that passengers check-in oline.

BOARDING PROCEDURES

Because it is crucial that we maintain social distancing and minimize the opportunities for physical contact, boarding will be done differently to how it was done before.
• Boarding will be organised sequentially. The same process will be used for all flights, whether it requires walking across the tarmac, using a jet-bridge or getting on a bus, to reach the aircraft.
• Passengers will be required to scan their own boarding pass at security check points and at the boarding gate, present identification and will be requested to remove their face mask to verify their identification.
• Always remember to wear your mask while the flight is boarding, even after you are seated. If you don’t, we are required to offload you.
• You will be required to wear your mask throughout the flight.
• You are welcome to bring your own hand sanitisers, please don’t wipe any of the seat, tray-tables or surrounding aircraft surfaces with your hand sanitizer as they may cause damage.
• Cabin crew will have hand sanitizer wipes available should you wish to wipe your seating area.
• Liquid and gel security restrictions still apply, so please limit your containers of 70% alcohol- based hand sanitisers to 100ml. Security officials will confiscate any bottles that exceed the limitations.