Andina

Peru restarts international flights after COVID-19 travel restrictions

Lima-based Jorge Chavez International Airport. Photo: ANDINA/Juan Carlos Guzmán

Lima-based Jorge Chavez International Airport. Photo: ANDINA/Juan Carlos Guzmán

12:25 | Lima, Oct. 5.

Peru restarted passenger air transport internationally today, October 5, as part of Phase 4 of the economic reactivation, which began on October 1.

The first flights to be resumed today include those to and from Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador); La Paz and Santa Cruz (Bolivia); Bogota, Cali, and Medellin (Colombia); Panama (Panama); Asuncion (Paraguay); Montevideo (Uruguay); and Santiago (Chile).

The resumption of international flights to further destinations will be gradual.

It must be noted that this first stage will see flights that are no longer than 4 hours.
 

According to the Head of State, the entrance of passengers and the path they have take to pass through immigration controls have been duly inspected, making the necessary checks to ensure that this resumption of flights does not represent a risk factor for infections.


During said inspection, the statesman was accompanied by Ministers Carlos Estremadoyro (Transport and Communications) and Cesar Gentille (Interior).

Last week, Transport and Communications Minister Carlos Estremadoyro informed of the actions carried out by his sector in order to resume international flights. Some of them are listed below.

Air filtration systems

He said the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) provide that airplanes must have air filtration systems similar to those used in operating rooms. 

In addition, airplanes must be disinfected before the boarding and disembarking of passengers. Virtual check-in shall be promoted as well.

Social distancing

For their part, airport concessionaires shall mark the distance between passengers waiting in lines to maintain social distancing, place alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers in various areas of the air terminal, implement protective panels in passenger service areas, and mark the seats that cannot be occupied at the airport facilities, among other actions.

Health affidavit

Meanwhile, domestic passengers shall continue to present a health affidavit. In the document, travelers shall state that they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, they have to provide their personal information to be contacted and informed if they traveled close to a coronavirus carrier.

As is known, Peru closed its borders on March 17 to prevent the COVID-19 from further spreading in the country. Thus, humanitarian flights were mostly allowed to enter its airspace.



(END) VVS/RMB

Published: 10/5/2020