COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Private Jet Travel News and Updates from our Field Notes

Updated Monday, April 20, 6:12 PM EST

Mexico - Cabo San Lucas International OPEN for USA travel
There are no USA travel restrictions to Cabo San Lucas.  Passengers can go directly from their aircraft to transportation.  Carside immigration and customs services are used to minimize standing in lines etc.)
 
Hong Kong
From ALL countries entry is permitted with on-site saliva testing.  Passengers must submit to a test and wait until results prior to leaving the Health Inspection designated area.

Updated Monday, March 25, 2020, 4:34 PM EST

Nigeria - Entry Restriction
All airports are closed to international flights with the exception of an aircraft in a state of emergency. Approval may be given to overflights, humanitarian aid, cargo flights, and other safety-related operations.
 
Mali - Entry Restriction
All commercial traffic from countries affected by COVID-19 is suspended except for cargo flights.
 
Ethiopia - Entry Restriction
ECAA has reinstated technical landing permits for fuel stop only. The crew are to remain airside of the terminal, as they will be subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine if they leave the terminal. For non-scheduled aircraft arriving ferry to pick up passengers who have arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines inbound flight - landing permit will be issued at the discretion of the ATS Director, therefore no guarantee. 
 
Palau - Entry Restriction
Travel restrictions extended until 31 March 2020 - temporary ban of direct flights and cruise ships originating from or transiting through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau into Palau, as well as the temporary ban of entry of foreign travelers from these areas in the past 14 days.
 
Madagascar - Entry Restriction
All flights that intend to land at Madagascar airports that are from Europe, La Reunion Island, and Mayotte Island are suspended.
China - Airport Restrictions
ZBAA, ZBTJ, and ZSSS all have various restrictions. Visit our resource page and navigate to the China section to view all airport restrictions.
 
Kiribati - Airport Restrictions
Aerodromes have available night operations upon request. Must have 72-hour prior notice to the airport services office for non-scheduled night operations.
 
Singapore - Landing Restriction
WSSS or WSSL must submit through its ground handling agent, health declaration of each crew member and passengers on board the flight, as required by the director of medical services under the Infectious Diseases Act, but no earlier than three hours before its estimated time of departure. If any of the passengers or crew have any of the conditions defined as positive in the health declaration, the aircraft must be operated as a medevac flight.
 
Singapore - Landing Restriction
Effective 23 March 2020, all foreign visitors traveling to Singapore will have to submit the electronic arrival cards prior to arrival. SG Arrival Card is the electronic version of the paper disembarkation/embarkation (DE) card (or commonly known as the white cards) that foreign visitors are currently required to submit on arrival. This can be done within 14 days prior to the date of arrival in Singapore, to avoid unnecessary delays during immigration clearance.
 
Japan - Quarantine
People arriving from the whole area of the United States of America must wait 14 days at the location designated by the quarantine station chief and refrain from using public transportation in Japan. This measure will be applicable to aircraft or vessels departing for Japan from the U.S. starting 26 March 2020 and will be implemented by the end of April 2020.

Updated Monday, March 24, 2020, 8:51 PM EST

US: Florida  Governor Ron DeSantis announced that anyone flying from NY, NJ, and Connecticut to Florida will be placed under a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Developing: 190 flights from NY/NJ still operating as scheduled the exact implementation of this mandate is still pending clarification from the local airport and FBO's.

Updated Monday, March 23, 2020, 7:56 PM EST

US:  FAA reports that 11 ATC (air traffic control centers) have been closed after staff tested positive.  

Here is the current list: Chicago Midway, Las Vegas McCarran, Las vegas Tracon (departure/approach),  New York (JFK), Indianapolis ARTCC (en route, departure, arrival), Wilmington Airport (Delaware), LaGuardia Aiport (LGA),  New York ARTCC (en route, departure, arrival), Farmingdale Republic Airport (NY), Leesburg Executive Airport (DC), Peoria International Airport (IL).   

These closures are currently responsible for delays in the LAS area only.  Given large cancelation of commercial flights traffic is mostly on-time or with minor delays. 

EU:   TapJets is working with officials to secure permits to move several US and Canadian families out of the EU area.  We were asked not to specify location so that local officials are not flooded with requests.  We will provide an update on these efforts.

Updated Monday, March 23, 2020, 6:18 PM EST
 

Australia - Entry Restriction

All non-Australian citizens and non-residents will not be allowed to enter Australia effective 20 March 2020. Some exemptions apply.

Thailand - Entry Restriction

Passengers from the United Arab Emirates are not allowed to enter Thailand.

Vietnam - Entry Restriction

All passengers are not allowed to enter Vietnam. This does not apply to nationals of Vietnam.

Myanmar - Entry Restriction

Passengers who have been in the Hubei Province of China and Daegu and Gyeongbuk Regions of Korea in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Myanmar. This does not apply to nationals of Myanmar. They are subject to 14-day quarantine measures.

Nigeria - Entry Restriction

The Federal Government of Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travelers from the following (13) countries: China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Jamaica - Entry Restriction

Travelers who have visited these countries in the last 14 days will not be granted landing privileges: China, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, South Korea, Republic of Korea, Iran, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

Papua New Guinea - Airport Restriction

All international non-scheduled flights, intending to operate into any Papua New Guinea airport, other than Port Moresby, must flight plan to indicate Port Moresby (AYPY) as their first point of entry for mandatory cross-border checks, including Coronavirus (2019/nCOV) tests. 

Indonesia -  Airport Restriction

All flight operations to/from the People’s Republic of China are suspended until further notice. All airport lounges and VIP Terminals are closed until further notice. All passengers and aircrew must use commercial passenger terminal.

Laos - Notice

As of 20 March 2020, the following visa facilities are suspended for all nationalities (passenger and crew), until further notice: visa on arrival, tourist visa issued at Lao Diplomatic mission, eVisa, visa exemption scheme (not applicable to the holder of Diplomatic and Official Passport). 

Bangladesh - Notice

Visa on arrival suspended for all nationalities.

Macau - Notice

When someone onboard an inbound flight to Macau International Airport is detected with symptoms compatible with severe respiratory disease associated with COVID-19, the pilot-in-command needs to notify Macau on the first contact.

Updated Monday, March 17, 2020, 6:35 PM EST

Chicago -  Midway (MDW) - Airport Tower Closed, several employees tested positive for CV we are expecting delays, operating from the backup facility.

EU - developing story:   European Union will close its borders for 30 days for all travel. EU citizens within the EU can continue to move on an as-needed basis.  Aviation impact soon to follow.

Updated Monday, March 17, 2020, 6:07 PM EST

The Cayman Islands

Please be advised of airport closure on Sunday 22nd, 2020 until April 12th, 2020, for the Cayman Islands as follows:

1. To close the Owen Roberts International Airport and the Charles Kirk Connell International Airport for international passenger flights for a temporary period of three weeks, beginning Sunday, 22 March 2020 at 11:59 pm until Sunday, 12 April 2020 at 11:59 pm

2. For all destinations except for the United Kingdom, inbound flights from Thursday, 19 March 2020 will operate for returning residents only.

3. Outbound flights will operate as usual through Sunday, 22 March 2020.

4. With immediate effect, any person arriving in the Cayman Islands will be required to be isolated for 14 days.

5. Inter-Island flights will continue, however, flights from Grand Cayman into Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will be restricted to residents and essential persons, for example, medical staff, etc. This because, as we all know, Cayman Brac has a significant elderly population and we want to ensure that they are protected.

Sint Maarten

Effective Tuesday, 17th March 2020, all international flights and cruises originating from the United States of America, Europe and the United Kingdom to St. Maarten are canceled for a period of two weeks. These travel restrictions do not apply for regional air and sea travel at this time. Travel within the Dutch Caribbean – Saba, St. Eustatius, Bonaire, Aruba, and Curacao remains in place until further notice. This travel restriction also applies to other seafaring vessels.

Only incoming visitors from the USA, Canada, Europe, UK, and Ireland are restricted to enter the country of St. Maarten.

All residents and nationals traveling back to St. Maarten from the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom during this period, are recommended to monitor their health for 14-days for consistent cough, fever or respiratory problems (consistent with COVID-19) and maintain a social distance for the safety and security of the community.

The current travel restrictions apply for two weeks starting on Tuesday, 17th March 2020. Commercial and private/chartered airlines will be allowed to land and take-off after the 16th March deadline date to facilitate the following:

  • Visitors who are currently on the island, or neighboring islands, who are scheduled to travel out via PJIA in the coming weeks to return to their home country.
     
  • Returning residents of St. Maarten and the surrounding islands, who usually transit through PJIA, invited specialists and other technical assistants, to enter the country with valid travel documents.

Updated Monday, March 16, 2020, 10:20 PM EST

Latest changes in COVID-19 restrictions on Private Jet Travel around the globe.

  • U.S. - The travel restrictions for Europe have officially been extended to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Here's the official proclamation.

Note: Operations that appear feasible due to a potential exemption, can only be confirmed through filling APIS and requesting Landing Rights. CBP could ask for detailed travel history for ANY individual, U.S. Citizen or Foreign National, seeking customs clearance into the U.S.

  • Europe - The president of the European Commission today announced a 30-day restriction of all "non-essential" travel into the E.U. (excluding Schengen Area countries and the U.K.), pending approval by E.U. leadership. We are working on getting more information on this.

Also, the list of countries restricting non-residents or banning international flights altogether is snowballing, including Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Norway, Poland, and Slovakia.

  • U.S. CBP Clearance at Shannon, Ireland - Suspended starting Tuesday, March 17th at 0400Z.
  • Canada - We've received intel that the Prime Minister will likely be making a statement today with additional restrictions.
  • Mexico - Authorities are in the process of implementing a new phase of restrictions. We're expecting the official announcement soon.
  • Latin America - The list of countries in Latin America with restrictions is growing by the hour. Argentina, Aruba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru are restricting entry of all non-citizens. Guatemala has restricted entry of anyone who has been in the U.S. or Canada in the last 14 days.
  • The Caribbean - Restrictions are being implemented rapidly across most countries. Most have now imposed travel bans on travelers from Europe and Asia, and some, such as Saint Maarten, have added the United States to the restricted list.
  • Asia-Pacific - In the last 24 hours, enhanced restrictions have been announced in Australia, Macao, and Singapore. China has also released new guidelines for major airports.

*This article contains information from public sources and some of the information provided to operators by Universal Weather

April 20, 2020