The Tanzanian government has announced a partial relaxation on international flight restrictions.
The relaxation will affect repatriation flights, humanitarian aid operations, medical and relief flights, technical landings where passengers do not disembark and other safety-related operations.
The move intends to allow some categories of flight movements amid growing demand for the service.
Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)’s Director- General, Hamza Johari says “We have been receiving a number of applications for repatriation flights and that is why the government has decided to relax some restrictions”.
According to the regulator, prior to the relaxation of conditions, it could take up to two weeks for airlines to get a permit for repatriation flights and other related operations.
Airlines can now secure a permit in no more than two hours.
Previously, only cargo flights were allowed on condition that crew members were quarantined at designated places by the government at their own cost for the duration of their stay.
In its circular which was made public on Thursday, the TCAA declared that the government would authorise empty flights for the purpose of picking passengers up with crew not being allowed to disembark.
Flights purposed for picking Tanzanian citizens or residents who are stranded in foreign countries will be authorised.
All travellers, whether foreigners or returning residents entering Tanzania, will be subjected to a mandatory isolation for 14 days at their own cost at designated facilities identified by the government.
After 14 days of mandatory quarantine, passengers with no symptoms of COVID -19 will be allowed to leave the facilities after registering their personal information for future follow-up.
All travellers will be also be subjected to an intensive screening including rapid testing for COVID-19 if deemed necessary.