Rwanda will fully open aviation activities on 1 August under very strict conditions and measures to ensure the safety of passengers, said Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister told Parliament that the government is working to reopen commercial flights, and this will only happen if the signal is ready.
Following five months of Covid-19 in Rwanda, Ngirente said, the government cannot wait for the virus to be completely eliminated to resume flights, as reported earlier.
He said that there are several conditions that will be put in place, such as passenger requirements, time to spend after the first tests and before travelling, touring the country, among others.
“We are preparing to reopen flights in Kigali but we won’t allow any mistake to be made. We shall closely monitor these activities,” Ngirente said.
In the re-opening proposal, the PM said that the Covid-19 test for air travel will come at a cost of $50 (Rwf50,000) for foreigners and $40 (Rwf40,000) for citizens, as the government is already incurring the cost of conducting free local tests.
“This charge for traveling out or into the country is like a contribution because it is very expensive to run tests. A single test cost $150 per person but we do it for free,” the PM explained.
Minister of Health Dr. Daniel Ngamije also confirmed that Rwanda is planning for the opening of aviation operations, but that there will be some new changes in the way flight staff dress and some additional traveler management charges.
While providing the full specifications of the requirements, Ngamije, who accompanied the PM, outlined some of the steps that foreign travelers would have to bear in mind.
For example, all passengers would be required to conduct a test in the host country 72 hours prior to travel and send it online.
On disembarking all will disinfect (clean) their shoes in chlorine liquid, undergo a Covid-19 screening, stay at one of the 10 designated isolation hotels (which they will pay for) as they wait for their results in 24 hours.
Ngamije said that air hostesses and hostesses would also not be permitted to return to their homes and would be accommodated in designated residences for easy monitoring and testing, but would also be dressed in personal protective equipment (PPEs) to prevent the risk of infection.
Sources confirmed that early passengers are now obtaining the Covid-19 Passenger Information Forms, which must be sent to the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority.
Rwanda is among the 4 countries in Africa that have been allowed to fly passengers to the Schengen nations. Other African countries are: Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.
