Foreign airlines limit travel amid COVID-19 surge in South Africa

Many foreign airlines have streamlined flights to South Africa this week following travel restrictions in the wake of new coronavirus strain that emerged in the country recently, reported AFP.

A growing list of countries are limiting travel to and from South Africa since a more infectious variant of the virus, 501Y.V2, was declared in December last year.

The new border closures have forced major airlines to either suspend or reduce flights in and out of Africa’s most industrialised economy.

Also read: World’s top tourist destinations a sad sight as COVID-19 hits tourism

Earlier this week, Emirates announced a 13-day halt on all South Africa routes for “operational reasons”.

Lufthansa said it was “adjusting its flight programme” to South Africa to “reduced demand”.

KLM said it had to modify its schedules after the Netherlands restricted travel from South Africa to Amsterdam, forcing the company to cancel several flights this week.

Also read: Travelers entering US will have to carry a negative COVID-19 test: CDC

The curtailing comes amid worrying resurge in South Africa’s coronavirus infections, mainly due to the new variant, that forced the government to impose a new set of guidelines last month.

South Africa has recorded close to 1.3 million cases and over 35,500 fatalities since March — the highest on the continent.

More than 240,000 infections and 6,000 deaths have been reported in January alone.