The East African nation of Tanzania has lifted its ban on all Kenyan airlines and flights from Kenya into its airspace.
The ban was a retaliatory response to Kenya’s decision to restrict travellers from Tanzania due to Coronavirus concerns.
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) in a statement revealed that it has discontinued its ban on all kenyan operators including AirKenya Express Limited, Kenya Airways, SafariLink Aviation, and Fly 540 Limited.
The news is expected to be well received by airlines and traders alike who rely on flights between the two East African nations.
The decision to lift the ban is coming after Kenya added Tanzania to its “safe flights list”. The list informs flight passengers interested in coming into Kenya about the specific countries they can travel from, without needing to quarantine for fourteen (14) days when they arrive in Kenya.
The statement from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) read, “This is to confirm that the Government of the Republic of Kenya through a circular issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on September 15 removed the requirement of 14 days mandatory quarantine for all arriving passengers from the United Republic of Tanzania.”
It further stated that, “The resumption and restoration of flights for all Kenyan operators is with immediate effect and the KCAA has been informed accordingly.”
Kenya on the 1st of August 2020, clarified its earlier move to exclude Tanzania from its safe flights list after Tanzania opted to carry out an alleged retaliatory move.
James Macharia who is Kenya’s Transport Cabinet Secretary made it known at the time that Tanzania was not barred to carrying out flights to Kenya. He added that the country (Tanzania) was not included in the Safe Flights List.
Kenya has since then increased the number of countries exempted from the fourteen (14) day quarantine requirement and included in its Safe Flights List. The number of countries allowed entry into Kenya’s border without the quarantine requirement, currently stands at 147.
The Safe Flights List is part Kenya’s numerous measures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus into its borders.
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