Travel Information

The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) Council approved Takeoff: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis(Takeoff) as an authoritative and comprehensive framework of risk-based temporary measures for air transport operations during the COVID-19 crisis.

The implementation of global standards has to be made so that we can safely restore air connectivity as borders and economies re-open. In line with recommendations and guidance from public health authorities, these adopted measures will mitigate the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus during the travel process.

These measures include:

— Physical distancing to the extent feasible and implementation of “adequate risk-based measures where distancing is not feasible, for example in aircraft cabins”;

— Wearing of face coverings and masks by passengers and aviation workers;

— Routine sanitation and disinfection of all areas with potential for human contact and transmission;

— Health screening, which could include pre- and post-flight self-declarations, as well as temperature screening and visual observation, “conducted by health professionals”;

— Contact tracing for passengers and aviation employees: updated contact information should be requested as part of the health self-declaration, and interaction between passengers and governments should be made directly though government portals;

— Passenger health declaration forms, including self-declarations in line with the recommendations of relevant health authorities. Electronic tools should be encouraged to avoid paper;

— Testing: if and when real-time, rapid and reliable testing becomes available.

Passport validity

If there is no specific mention of validity, passports are simply required to be valid on entry. However, most countries can have specific requirements. Please note that when consulting embassies on passport validity, the advice given will usually be a validity of 6 months as this is the minimum requirement for a visa issuing authority when issuing a visa in a passport.
Expired passports are accepted by some countries for certain nationals. Please check beforehand the requirements of your destination.

Visa

A visa is an entry in a passport or other travel document made by a (consular) official of a government to indicate that the bearer has been granted authority to enter or re-enter the country concerned.
The periods during which (transit) visas permit a passenger to stay in a country and the time within which the (transit) visa has to be used and how many times the passenger may enter the country on it, can vary depending on the requirements of the authorities.

A visa, transit visa or a visa exemption for a country does not guarantee admission to that country. The final decision rests with the competent authorities at the port of entry in the country concerned.

It is necessary to check carefully the (transit) visas required by the authorities of:

•— country of destination

•— country of departure (if returning to this country)

•— country of residence

•— transit stations (transit visas)

If only a landing will be made en route the transit visas should be checked as well;
Passengers travelling in transit through a country must be able to prove that they will continue their journey within the prescribed period. Unless otherwise stated they can do this by showing:

— a ticket for the remaining stretches of the journey

— a ticket for the homeward journey

— a sum of money in the required currency, sufficient to buy a ticket for the remaining stretches of the journey or for the homeward journey.

In addition, these passengers must be in possession of the documents required for entry into the country of destination and transit through the countries en route. Note: Some countries have strict transit regulations. Certain categories of passengers, even those proceeding by same flight and not leaving the aircraft, are:

— a ticket for the remaining stretches of the journey

— a ticket for the homeward journey

These facts are published in the information of the countries concerned

Before travelling

•— Buy travel insurance: make sure you have comprehensive insurance for international travel covering for the type of trip you’re taking, particularly for trips involving extreme activities.

•— Pack well: It is advisable not to carry too much weight. There is as well a limit on individual pieces for the safety of the baggage handlers adapted by airline companies.

•— Check the time: give yourself time to get through check-in, security and immigration at the airport. Make sure you’re at the gate 45 minutes before departure and gates close 20 minutes before the flight.

Vaccines

Check with your doctor four to six weeks before you travel to see if you need any specific vaccinations for your destination. Even if you’ve had a vaccine before, you may need a recall or booster.
Check if your destination is a risk area for malaria and speak to your doctor about malaria medication. You can use the map from the US Center for Disease Control to check the destinations that pose a risk of malaria.

Pregnancy

You can book your flight usually up to your 29th week of pregnancy if you haven’t had any complications or medical concerns.
However, you will need to bring a medical certificate or letter signed by your doctor. You may not be accepted on certain flights if you travel without one.

Medical Condition

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, epilepsy, or other chronic disease, check with your doctor at least four to six weeks before you travel. Ask for a certificate describing your medical conditions and the treatments you follow, including specific medications and dosages.
Make sure you have enough medication for your journey and carry it in your cabin baggage. You also need to check whether your medication isn’t prohibited in your destination and whether you need special authorization. You should also bring a cool bag or vacuum flask if you need to cool your medications as some airline companies cannot keep medications.
Keep your immunizations up to date and carry your immunization card with you.

Baggage allowance

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released recommendations for limits on checked baggage and carry-on luggage. Some companies may adhere to these recommendations, or at least partially and some can have their own recommendations.. Please check carefully beforehand the requirement of the selected company for your flight.
Usually the recommendations for checked baggage are: advised maximum weight 23 kg (50.71 lbs), weight limit 32 kg (70.55 lbs), advised maximum size 158 cm (62.2 in) length + width + height, limit 203 cm (nearly 80 in). The limit of 23 kg is present because of similar limits in health and safety regulations.
Because of the wide variation in baggage allowances, in 2015 IATA released a size recommendation for suitcases meant as checked baggage or carry-on luggage. It is stated that suitcases should have a maximum size of 55 cm (21.65 in) long, 35 cm (13.78 in) wide and 20 cm (7.87 in) deep. Should they respect these requirements, the bag may carry the logo "IATA cabin OK". This limit is tighter than most current airline limits, so bags with this logo can be allowed in most airlines

Cabin Baggage

To ensure that travel is comfortable for all traverlers, it is important that baggage carried in the cabin comply with a set of rules and allowances set by the airline company. All cabin baggage must fit either under the seat in front of you or in one of the overhead lockers. Baggage may not be placed behind your legs, in the aisles or in front of emergency exits. Please check carefully beforehand the requirement of the selected company for your flight.

Liquid Transportations

All liquids, gels and aerosols, pastes, lotions, creams, drinks and other items of similar consistency must be in containers with a capacity no greater than 100ml. Those carried in containers larger than 100ml are widely not accepted by airline companies, even if the container is only partially filled. These containers must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding one litre.
Larger bags or bags that are non-sealable, such as fold-over sandwich bags, are not allowed. The containers must fit comfortably within the plastic bag, which is to be completely closed. You will need to present the plastic bag for visual examination at the security screening point. Only one bag per customer will be permitted.
Exemptions will be made for medications, baby milk or foods, and special dietary requirements, however you will need to show appropriate means of verifying the nature of these items.