FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED STATEMENT: CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
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 from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, United States, UK and China.
*Travellers from medium-risk source markets - Portugal, Singapore and Hong Kong - to present themselves for testing.
*Anyone who has travelled to these countries from mid-February, need to present themselves for testing.
*Self-isolation for South Africans who have come from high-risk destinations.
*Intensified screening at all ports of entry.
*All non-essential domestic travel is discouraged.
*Gatherings of more than 100 people prohibited.
Says Andrew Stark, MD Flight Centre Travel Group Middle East and Africa: “Our top priority, as always, is to assist our customers, based on our travel expertise and the relationship we have with suppliers internationally, to re-accommodate any travel plans that need to be changed in the short term as this situation continues to evolve.”
Flight Centre urges affected customers to contact their travel expert swiftly with any questions or concerns.
“Our Travel Experts have the latest information on cancellation and rebooking policies and can assist customers with rescheduling their travel. It is essential that you look to official sources of information in these uncertain times and do not share or act on information that has not been verified by an expert.”
Flight Centre further wishes to urge all South Africans to take heed of the following advice when travelling:
*Allow for additional time at airports and ports of entry, locally and abroad, as strict health screening is being performed at airports worldwide.
*Don’t travel without comprehensive travel insurance, regardless of the destination.
*Inform yourself and adopt these basic protective measures from the World Health Organization, regardless of travel.
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. Certain cruise lines, airlines and tour operators have also announced they will suspend operations temporarily and/or allow cancellation or deferment of travel plans without penalties,” says Andrew Stark, MD Flight Centre Travel Group Middle East and Africa.
“Our top priority currently is to assist our customers, based on our travel expertise and the relationship we have with suppliers internationally, to re-accommodate any travel plans that need to be changed in the short term as this situation continues to evolve.”
Furthermore, Flight Centre is urging its customers to share only travel information confirmed by official sources and to consult with their Flight Centre Travel Expert for informed travel advice and options.
“As the situation evolves, we have seen a lot of inaccurate and ill-informed information disseminated. At this time, we would urge travellers to rely only on information from official sources and to contact their Flight Centre Travel Expert for up-to-date and reliable travel information, as well as all the options available for travel,” adds Stark.
Flight Centre adheres with the recommendations of official sources, such as the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). Flight Centre further wishes to urge travellers to take heed of the following advice when travelling:
Allow for additional time at airports and ports of entry, locally and abroad, as strict health screening is being performed at airports worldwide. Some countries have
*implemented medical forms that have to be completed at border controls (such as Vietnam).
*Don’t travel without comprehensive travel insurance, regardless of the destination.
*Contact your Flight Centre travel expert with any concerns or queries regarding your existing travel bookings or when making new travel arrangements.
*Inform yourself and adopt these basic protective measures from the World Health Organization, regardless of travel.
