Aviation Industry welcomes new regulations on international travel
The aviation industry has welcomed the re-opening of international travel but fears airport traffic won't return to pre-pandemic levels.
Chris Zweigenthal, CEO of the Airlines Association of SA says reopening the country's borders will allow the industry to make its full package of services available to customers and encourage economic growth.
"We do acknowledge at this stage certain states still restrictive measures in place to control entry into their country. We have approved aviation and travel and tourism protocols in place. we must ensure we are disciplined and comply with doing all the basics right," he said.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa said this week that all visitors will be allowed to enter South Africa with a negative Covid-19 certificate.
For those flying out of KZN, international air travel remains restricted to King Shaka International Airport.
Meanwhile Airlink CEO Rodger Foster says it will be difficult to boost tourism numbers.
"It would be naive to expect a sudden return to previous pandemic international and travel and tourism level as so many of our key markets are now subject to their own renewed travel restrictions," he said.
