Travel News for the Week

Some airlines issue advisory to reach 3.5 hours prior to departure: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport is in the news for facing chaos and congestion as passengers have been facing long queues for the check-in process. Social media has been flooded with memes regarding this, along with complaints of congestion and long waiting hours in queues at the airport.With regard to this, many airlines have even issued an advisory and asked passengers to reach the airport at least 3.5 hours prior to domestic departure. If reports are to go by, the average number of flights per hour from the IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 is between 19 to 21 during peak hours, while officials added that the 13 X-ray machines currently available are capable of handling passengers for up to 15 flights per hour only. Reportedly, such lapses have led to long queues at entry gates, check-in desks, because of which many passengers have complained of missing their flights. In short, IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 is struggling to manage the rush as of now, for which some airlines have even advised its passengers to arrive at the airport 3.5 hours before domestic flights.

Now you can travel to Croatia on a Schengen visa: The European Union (EU) has finally approved Croatia as a Schengen state, and now travellers on a Schengen visa can add Croatia to their list of countries to visit on one visa. Croatia is the 27th member nation of Schengen, and from January 1, 2023, travellers will be allowed to visit the country on a Schengen visa. Even though the border check-free measure will be implemented from January 1, technical preparations in the country’s airport will be able to follow this from March 26. Croatia shares borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Italy (sea border). Out of these countries, Slovenia, Hungary and Italy are Schengen states. A Schengen zone or area is the world’s largest visa-free zone. Now 27 countries are part of this Schengen area. Meaning, on one Schengen visa, you are technically allowed to travel visa-free to 27 countries.

Hong Kong, Nigeria scrap COVID-19 travel rules for international travellers: In a latest development, all those arriving in Hong Kong will no longer receive an ‘amber’ code, which was issued earlier to bar them from entering some venues. This was informed by Chief Executive John Lee, while announcing a drop in the use of the government-mandated COVID-19 mobile application. This move comes in the wake of boosting resumption of travel and business, as the said ‘amber’ code has also been removed that meant people had limited access to restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, Nigeria also removed COVID-19 testing requirements for international travellers, and it’s also no longer mandatory to wear masks on flights and inside airport buildings. Also, as per a notice to airlines, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority added that travellers to and from Nigeria will no longer be required to undergo COVID-19 irrespective of their vaccination status.

India restores e-visa facility for British passport holders: India is all set to resume e-visa facility for British passport holders. As per the latest news reports, this service was not in place for a handful of nations, including the United Kingdom and Canada. The High Commission of India to the UK confirmed this news via Twitter, and added that the e-visa facility will again be available for UK nationals travelling to India. While making this announcement, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram K Doraiswami stated that they are rolling out e-visas once again, which should enable friends from the United Kingdom far more easily to India. He further added that the system upgrade is underway, and that the visa website will soon be up and ready to receive applications from friends in the UK.

REVISED COVID-19/ PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES FOR ALL AVIATION SERVICE PROVIDERS (DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS):

The prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and most parts of the world has remained at a low level for a sustained period. The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) has therefore revised the COVID-19/ Public Health guidelines as follows:

Domestic Operations:
Mask Mandate: The wearing of facemask inside Airport terminal buildings and onboard aircraft by airport workers, passengers, and crew members is no longer mandatory. Wearing of facemask by passengers onboard aircraft or inside Airport terminal buildings is discretionary but recommended. Persons aged 60 years and above, immunocompromised (e.g. due to organ transplant, cancer, etc), those with co-morbidities (e.g. Heart disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, etc), are advised to use facemasks, wash their hands with water and soap, use hand alcohol-based sanitizers, and avoid large gatherings.
Disinfection of bags at the entrance of terminal buildings is no longer required.
Airlines are therefore required to resume serving catering (meals and drinks) on board aircraft.
Maintaining social distancing at airport terminal buildings is no longer mandatory.
Facilities and conveyances are advised to maintain good environmental hygiene, good ventilation, and
Encourage good hand and respiratory hygiene.
The use of alcohol-based sanitizer by passengers and airport workers is recommended.
Boarding and disembarkation protocols are to be maintained.
International Operations:
All requirements in ‘1’ above shall apply.
COVID–19 Travel Testing: Pre-departure and Post-arrival COVID-19 PCR tests are no longer required for all passengers irrespective of vaccination status. PCR tests required for all passengers who are partially/not fully vaccinated have been suspended.
Health Declaration form: Permission to travel/ QR code is no longer required. A simplified Health NCAA Questionnaire form (non-COVID-19 specific) shall be completed by all passengers travelling to Nigeria preferably pre-departure on the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP). Passengers who fail to fill the health questionnaire on the NITP pre-departure will be required to fill the health questionnaire either onboard the aircraft prior to landing or at the Airport terminal building upon arrival.
All other COVID-19 quarantine/travel requirements are hereby made optional.