Air travel curbs to ease soon?

Stranded expatriates in different South Asian countries are upbeat with expectations that the Sultanate will fully open its skies in the first week of September.

Sparking their optimism is the announcement last Thursday by the Oman authorities that two doses of vaccines are mandatory for entering the Sultanate.

“Entry to the Sultanate from all land, sea and airports will require travelers to present proof of two doses of vaccinations that are approved in the Sultanate”, announced the Supreme Committee tackling the Covid-19 situation in the country.

Starting September 1, travellers from the age of 18 and above must take two doses of vaccine if they are coming through land, air and sea ports.

The Committee also said that visitors and travelers are required to undergo a PCR test prior to travel and upon arrival in the Sultanate.

“A seven-day quarantine is a must for all with a positive PCR test report. They need to take another test on the eight day. The decision will take effect from September 1”, said the statement.

The Supreme Committee has also completely lifted a three-week nationwide curfew from Saturday following a drastic fall in the number of new daily Covid-19 infections in the recent weeks.

Experts in the air travel industry are of the opinion that the latest easing of restrictive measures almost certainly provides a scope for reopening of flights from the red-list countries from the first week of September.

“Although not conspicuous, indications are that flights will be allowed to Oman from the first week of September. Unlike in the previous announcements relating to restrictions, the Supreme Committee was specific about measures that air travelers need to take”, said an official with a travel agency in al Qurum.

Some travel agencies have already started contacting passengers to collect details for booking tickets as airlines have reopened sale of tickets.

“A lot of people are enquiring about ticket availability. And they are optimistic that flights will reopen in the first week of September. Many of them want to travel urgently as their work permits are expiring or businesses halted,” said Afzal Ahmed, who works in a travel agency in Kochi.

Fights have been suspended for travellers from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and some other countries by the Sultanate as part of Covid-19 precautionary measures.