South Africa to enter Nationwide lockdownA nationwide lockdown in South Africa will come into effect as of midnight, Thursday 26 March 2020. All international and domestic flights are prohibited, irrespective of the risk category of the country of origin. Airlines have adjusted their schedules and capacity to ensure that flights arrive and depart prior to the lockdown coming into effect. A...
Latest Travel News
South Africa – COVID-19 update
20th March 2020
France and Switzerland have been added to South Africa’s travel ban list.In a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, South Africa has added France and Switzerland to the list of high-risk countries for which travel bans have been issued.The countries were added to a list in a travel advisory issued by the Department of International Relations & Co-operation on Tuesday (March 18). Currently,...
FLIGHT CENTRE UPDATE: MAURITIUS, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND CLOSE THEIR BORDERS
19th March 2020
JOHANNESBURG, 19 MARCH 2020 – Flight Centre would like to advise their customers that Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand have become the latest countries to close their borders to foreign visitors.Effective 19 March 2020, Mauritius will close its borders to all foreign nationals. Three people in the country have tested positive for COVID-19. All passengers, including transits, will not be...
Australia closes borders to foreign nationals - effective 20 March 2020
19th March 2020
Australia has taken the decision to close their borders to all foreign travellers as of 21:00pm AEDT on20 March 2020 (13:00pm RSA time). The travel ban comes into effect for non-citizens and non-residents.Australians will still be able to return from overseas but they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Australia. New Zealand closes borders to foreign...
New visa requirements for high-risk countries
18th March 2020
Six high-risk countries – which, to date have enjoyed visa-free entry into South Africa – will now be required to apply for visas.They are Italy, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom. The decision has been made to control movement in and out of South Africa as an active measure to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on...
The Government of Botswana implements new measures in relation to travel and the COVID-19 outbreak
17th March 2020
17 March 2020Kenya implements travel ban.The Kenyan government announced the travel ban following confirmation of three cases of COVID-19 in the country. Entry for people coming from any country with reported COVID-19 cases, including South Africa, is not permitted.Only Kenyan citizens and foreigners with valid residence permits will be allowed to enter, provided they proceed to self-quarantine...
FLIGHT CENTRE STATEMENT REACTION TO SA GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED TRAVEL BANS
16th March 2020
JOHANNESBURG, 16 MARCH 2020 – With yesterday’s announcement that the South African Government has instituted a travel ban in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), Flight Centre South Africa reiterates its commitment to assisting and re-accommodating affected travellers. The latest travel bans and restrictions instituted include: *Travel bans effective 18 March 2020 to and...
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
14th March 2020
JOHANNESBURG, 14 MARCH 2020 – The company would like to assure its customers that its Customer Care Teams and Travel Experts are working around the clock in response to the rapidly changing travel environment globally in response to COVID-19. “The impact that coronavirus is having on short-term travel is evolving rapidly. Several destinations have imposed travel bans which limit movement....
Coronavirus travel advice and FAQs – everything you need to know
11th March 2020
18 March 2020New visa requirements for high-risk countriesSix high-risk countries – which, to date have enjoyed visa-free entry into South Africa – will now be required to apply for visas.They are Italy, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom. The decision has been made to control movement in and out of South Africa as an active measure to contain the Coronavirus (...
DOMESTIC TRAVEL “FLYING OFF THE SHELVES” AT THIS WEEKEND’S FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP TRAVEL EXPO
29th February 2020
JOHANNESBURG, 29 FEBRUARY 2020 – South African travellers are resilient and will travel despite the rand exchange rate and evolving coronavirus situation. Flight Centre Travel Group Middle East and Africa MD, Andrew Stark, says the preliminary results of this weekend’s Travel Expo show that there’s still a massive appetite among South Africans to travel, especially if they can get a good deal.“We...
