| (1) |
International flights to and from the Republic, as well as domestic flights within the Republic, are permitted in terms of regulation 42, read with regulation 43(2)(a), of the Regulations. |
| (2) |
International passenger flights to and from the Republic are permitted, subject to the following conditions: |
| (a) |
A traveller must provide a valid certificate with a negative COVID-19 test outcome, recognised by the World Health Organisation, or equivalent local accredited authority, obtained not more that 72 hours before the date of travel. South African Authorities reserve the right to verify the authenticity of the presented certificate; |
[Direction 6(2)(a) substituted by section 2(a) of Notice No. 1091, GG45379 dated 22 October 2021]
| (b) |
in the event of the traveller's failure, for whatever reason, to submit a valid negative test certificate in terms of paragraph (a), upon arrival in South Africa, the traveller shall be required to do an antigen test at his or her own costs; |
| (c) |
in the event of the traveller testing positive for COVID-19, he or she shall be required to isolate him or herself, at his or her own cost, for 10 days; |
| (d) |
a passenger is required to wear a face mask at all times, may only remove a face mask during an emergency or when instructed by cabin crew to take it off and must observe social distancing; |
| (e) |
a foreign Operator is required to submit procedures that show the level of compliance with South African COVID-19 legislation for approval to the South African Civil Aviation Authority; |
| (f) |
foreign Air Ambulance Services are permitted to transport COVID-19 positive patients: Provided that they obtain approval from the Department of Health, obtain a permit issued by the Department of Transport prior to departure, and comply with the Department of Health Protocols and the Air Ambulance Guidelines issued by the Minister; |
| (g) |
a child under the age of six years may be exempted from wearing a face mask; |
| (h) |
a passenger who is unable to wear a face mask due to an underlying medical condition, must submit a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner to the Operator prior to departure; |
| (i) |
flight deck crew are required to wear face masks for the purpose of embarking and disembarking; |
| (j) |
cabin crew members are required to wear face masks at all times, except when conducting a safety briefing or during an emergency; |
| (k) |
an "immunity passport", "risk-free certificate" or "passport immunity" in respect of COVID-19 is not acceptable; |
| (l) |
an Operator shall not board any passenger without a valid negative COVID-19 certificate; |
[Direction 6(2)(l) substituted by section 2(a) of Notice No. 1091, GG45379 dated 22 October 2021]
| (m) |
crew members shall, upon arrival in South Africa, be subjected to health protocols as contemplated in Health Directions; |
| (n) |
an Operator must ensure and follow the following risk mitigation measures for crew members: |
| (i) |
Conduct risk assessments to ensure that crew members are fit and proper before they undertake their travel duties and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 crew infections; and |
| (ii) |
ensure that crew members are protected whilst on duty; |
| (i) |
is allowed to provide pre-packed catering on-board the aircraft and must take all risk mitigation, health and safety measures to contain the spread of COVID-19; and |
| (ii) |
may make available self-service complimentary magazines which passengers may pick up as they enter the aircraft, such magazine must not be shared amongst the passengers and if left behind by passengers after each use, must be safely disposed. |
[Direction 6(2)(o) substituted by section 2(a) of Notice No. 1091, GG45379 dated 22 October 2021]
| (o)A |
[Direction 6(2)(o)A deleted by section 2(b) of Notice No. 1091, GG45379 dated 22 October 2021] |
| (o)B |
[Direction 6(2)(o)B deleted by section 2(b) of Notice No. 1091, GG45379 dated 22 October 2021] |
| (o)C |
An Operator may make available self-service complimentary magazines which passengers may pick up as they enter the aircraft, such magazine must not be shared amongst the passengers and if left behind by passengers after each use, must be safely disposed; |
[Direction 6(2)(o)C inserted by section 3 of Notice No. 158, GG44208, dated 1 March 2021]
| (p) |
a passenger in transit— |
| (i) |
must be in possession of a valid negative COVID-19 certificate, obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel, from an accredited laboratory; |
[Direction 6(2)(p) substituted by section 2(a) of Notice No. 1091, GG45379 dated 22 October 2021]
| (a) |
International scheduled operations and charter flights carrying passengers are allowed at the following airports: |
| (i) |
OR Tambo International Airport; |
| (ii) |
King Shaka International Airport; |
| (iii) |
Cape Town International Airport; |
| (iv) |
Lanseria International Airport; and |
| (v) |
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. |
| (b) |
Long-haul flight departures and landings at the airports listed in paragraph (a) are permitted during the hours of curfew as provided for in regulation 67(1) of the Regulations. |
| (c) |
Passengers affected by flights referred to in (b) are required to present evidence of a valid boarding pass or flight ticket when stopped by law enforcement officers during curfew hours. |
[Direction 6(3) substituted by section 2(c) of Notice No. 1091, GG45379 dated 22 October 2021]
| (4) |
Charter Operators conducting cargo and passenger operations to and from the Republic are permitted to operate at the following airports with Port Health capacity: |
| (a) |
Bram Fischer International Airport; |
| (b) |
Cape Town International Airport; |
| (c) |
King Shaka International Airport; |
| (d) |
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport; |
| (e) |
Lanseria International Airport; |
| (f) |
OR Tambo International Airport; |
| (h) |
Port Elizabeth International Airport; and |
| (i) |
Upington International Airport. |
| (5) |
With regard to international outbound flights— |
| (a) |
subject to the travel requirements of the country of destination, a passenger must provide the Operator with a valid negative PCR test certificate or a valid negative COVID-19 test certificate from an accredited laboratory, certified by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority ("SAHPRA") and South African National Accreditation System ("SANAS"); |
| (b) |
an Operator is responsible for ensuring that passengers comply with COVID-19 requirements of the country of destination; and |
| (c) |
Operators must familiarise themselves with the public health measures, including testing requirements, at the destination airports prior to departure. |
| (6) |
Domestic passenger flights are permitted at the following domestic airports, as approved: |
| (a) |
Bram Fischer International Airport; |
| (b) |
Cape Town International Airport; |
| (g) |
King Shaka International Airport; |
| (h) |
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport; |
| (i) |
Lanseria International Airport; |
| (I) |
OR Tambo International Airport; |
| (n) |
Pietermaritzburg Airport; |
| (p) |
Plettenberg Bay Airport; |
| (r) |
Port Elizabeth International Airport; |
| (s) |
Richards Bay Airport; |
| (v) |
Upington International Airport. |
Statistics Act, 1999
