Manama: Saudi Arabia has allowed foreigners to travel outside the country adhering to coronavirus precautionary measures. Foreign airlines can charter services to the country for this purpose, the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a circular on Sunday evening.
The GACA circular put an end to the week-long flight ban, which imposed to prevent the spread of a mutated coronavirus variant reported in some countries.
According to the GACA circular, airlines are permitted to land in the country and depart with non-Saudi travelers in compliance with deterrent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Foreign charter flights are allowed subject to certain conditions. The cabin crew of a landing flight at kingdom airports are neither permitted to leave the flight nor permitted to be in physical contact with ground /operation staff of the arrival airport.
The authority clarified that these instructions do not apply to countries where the new mutated strain of coronavirus has been reported. It also instructed that the airlines must coordinate with the Air Transport Department about this before applying for service.
Saudi Arabia had closed its land, air and seaports on Sunday, December 20 for one week amid reports of a new mutated strain of coronavirus in a number of European countries including Britain.
In the wake of the new order, Vande Bharat Mission (VBB) flights will resume its services, according to sources. The VBB started in early May to evacuate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus-induced travel restrictions.
Quoting travel agents, Arab News reported that many expats had started booking flights departing from Dec. 29.
Meanwhile, not having entry permission to come to Saudi will make it difficult for Keralites waiting to be returned. Prior to the ban, expats had entered Saudi via the UAE after 14 days of quarantine and covid test in the UAE. Hundreds of Keralites, who reached the UAE to go to Saudi, have stranded in Dubai and nearby airports, due to the entry ban.
