Page 13 - World Airnews Magazine August 2020

AIRLINES

normal service to Djibouti that same day. Only Moroccan citizens and expatriates living in Morocco
The airline has reminded passengers that face masks will be man- were allowed to travel in the first stage of the re-opening.

datory for travel and that they will have to satisfy destination entry National airlines have scheduled as many flights as necessary

requirements, such as health certificates, and complete health to return Moroccans living abroad as well as foreigners living in
declaration forms if required. Morocco. Passengers are required to present both a PCR virus

IVORY COAST test taken within fewer than 48 hours of the flight, as well as
an antibody test, before boarding planes heading for Morocco.

Air Cote d’Ivoire resumed domestic flights following a government Moroccan citizens and foreign residents are able to leave Mo-
bailout, three months after Covid-19 suspension of operations. The rocco by air and sea.

national carrier received 14 billion CFA francs or (US) $24.09 million

from the government to keep it afloat as the pandemic shut down

flights. The resumption of flights is the first step in the airline’s plan NAMIBIA

to resume full operations post-COVID-19. International flights have It’s bad news for Air Namibia that was grounded due to cash
also resumed. problems. The airline failed to secure enough funding to remain
solvent and so its planes were grounded. The airline, which

operates 10 aircraft on continental and one international route,

with a staff of close to 800, required around 8 billion Namibian

dollars or (US) $469 million to stay afloat, but only received a tenth

KENYA

The national carrier Kenya Airways has resumed local flights after
halting operations for 99 days.

Its subsidiary, Jambojet, is also back to the skies. The carrier of that in last month’s budget.
started off with flights to Mombasa and Kisumu. But before the ruling could take effect, the Windhoek High Court

ruled to overturn it. And the airline continued as normal. A hear-

MAURITIUS ing is scheduled to take place this month.
Air Mauritius has put up five aircraft for sale after the airline In addition to its Windhoek-Frankfurt offering, the carrier

entered into administration as a result of the current crisis. With operates busy regional routes to Cape Town, Luanda and Hara-
international travel demand looking sluggish for the foreseeable re, attracting buying interest from bigger carriers like Ethiopian

future, it appears that the airline is seeking to downsize. Airlines, Lufthansa and South African Airways, according to local

According to data from Planespotters, Air Mauritius currently has media reports.

a fleet of 13 aircraft. This includes three ATR 72 turboprops, two
A319-100s, two A330-200s, two A330-900neos, two A340-300s, NIGERIA

and two A350-900s. In addition, South African Airways has leased Nigerian airports reopened for domestic operations after months

two A350s from Air Mauritius, which are not included in the of lockdown.
above count. Airports in the capital Abuja and the centre of commerce in
MOROCCO Lagos opened first. Passengers waiting to embark were seen
observing social distancing orders, with newly-installed hand

Morocco has gradually begun to reopen its air and maritime washing facilities at the airports, and airport workers were

borders after a strict lockdowns, which trapped tourists inside the taking the temperature of passengers and decontaminating

country and left thousands of Moroccans stranded abroad and their bags.
unable to come home. The government has committed itself to the World Health
World Airnews | August 2020
— 11 —