Effective immediately, South African Airways has suspended all international operations until May 31, 2020. Domestic and regional flights will continue. The suspension comes in the wake of the South African government travel ban implemented to restrict the spread of COVID-19. That ban has caused a significant decline in air travel to South Africa.
The South African government has also implemented strict regulations for the disembarkation of foreign nationals and flight crews landing in the country. Those regulations state: “Disembarkation of foreign nationals from the high-risk countries is suspended on airports upon arrival. Embarkation and disembarkation is permissible under the following circumstances: Disembarkation of returning South African citizens and permanent residents; embarkation of departing foreign nationals, disembarkation of a declared medical emergency; foreign nationals must be approved by port health services; upon landing, crew from high risk countries shall be subject to medical screening and quarantined for 21 days.”
Travelers with booked international flights on South African Airways should contact their travel agents, or for direct bookings, South African Airways Call Centers on +27 (0)11 978-1111 or 0861 606-606 or 0800 214-774 (South Africa only) or +27 (0)11 978-2888.
