When South Africa moved into Alert Level 3 of lockdown on 1 June 2020, business travel was given the green light to resume. Consequently, the Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) put safety measures in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, and protect its staff and travellers. The first flights for business travels resumed this week.
Some of the safety measures put in place include that passengers must:
- scan their own boarding passes
- place all of their loose items in their hand luggage
- re-enter the queue should they trigger the metal detector
- only laptops will be allowed in trays
There are also restrictions on the number of flights per day, and no scheduled international commercial flights will be processed. International repatriation flights, however, will continue.
Those wanting to travel for business will need to secure permission to travel before buying a ticket.
Those wanting to travel for business will need to secure permission to travel before buying a ticket. Business travellers will need to carry a letter on company letterhead, signed by a manager, as well as a completed employer permit form. Any traveller who fails to produce the required documents will not be permitted to fly.
The new safety protocols, including temperature screening, could delay check-in and boarding times. As a result, all travellers are encouraged to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight departs.
Today, on 10 June 2020, the Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, and City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos, visited CTIA to assess its new safety measures.
Alderman James Vos said, “Today’s visit solidifies the confidence we have in the CTIA team to ensure that travellers arrive at their destinations safely. As a City, we are ready to continue our partnership with CTIA to position Cape Town, as a destination of choice when all forms of travel is allowed to resume. I was impressed with their presentations demonstrating the readiness of the airport and can confidently say Cape Town is ready to welcome visitors to Mothers City.
“The aviation economy is a crucial driver of growth in Cape Town’s economic recovery plan as connectivity forms part of my departmental strategy to connect Cape Town with key destinations in Africa and globally.”
“The City’s Enterprise and Investment Department, together with our official Destination Marketing Organisation, Cape Town Tourism, developed plans to secure a sustainable future for the tourism sector. The aviation economy is a crucial driver of growth in Cape Town’s economic recovery plan as connectivity forms part of my departmental strategy to connect Cape Town with key destinations in Africa and globally. Central to these plans is our world-class airport to bring back our tourists and to take our local goods across the world. There is no doubt that the effect of the pandemic will fundamentally alter the aviation landscape and require new business models to restore confidence in airlines as well as the aviation sector’s financial viability.”
