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The Tanzanian government has relaxed some restrictions on international flights to allow some categories of flight movements amid growing demand for the service, authorities say.
The relaxation touches on repatriation flights, humanitarian aid operations, medical and relief flights, technical landings where passengers do not disembark, and other security-related operations.
On April 11, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) suspended scheduled and unscheduled international passenger flights in and out of the country in an effort to curb imported Covid-19 cases.
“We have been receiving several requests for repatriation flights, so the government has decided to relax some restrictions,” regulator CEO Hamza Johari told The Citizen.
As of Friday, the United States, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Lebanon, Pakistan and Ethiopia had organized special flights and successfully removed their stranded citizens in Tanzania.
According to the regulator, before the restrictions are relaxed, it could take up to two weeks for an airline to obtain permission for repatriation flights and other related operations.
Starting next Thursday, May 14, airlines can obtain a permit in no more than two hours, since all of them deliver the required application documents.
Before, the process was complicated because applications had to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and defense and security authorities before the TCAA issued the permit.
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Cargo flights to Tanzania were only allowed on condition that crew members be quarantined at government-designated locations at their own expense for the duration of their stay.
TCAA said in its circular, which was made public last Thursday, that the government would authorize empty flights for the repatriation of people on the condition that the crew not disembark.
“In the event that a full duration of route flight requires a crew change, it is recommended that two crew sets be deployed to work in rotation to minimize the chances of being subject to mandatory quarantine,” Johari said in the circular.
All travelers, whether foreigners or residents returning to Tanzania, are subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own expense at designated facilities identified by the government.
After the 14-day mandatory quarantine, Covid-19 symptom-free passengers can leave the premises after registering their personal information for future follow-up.
According to the circular, all travelers will undergo intensive examinations, including rapid tests for Covid-19 if deemed necessary.
Chartered flights from Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) will depart Tanzania to India next Thursday to bring stranded Tanzanians home.
