(QCOSTARICA) Costa Rica confirmed this Thursday the opening of its air borders starting on August 1, for a very limited market: commercial flights from Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom.
The country would thus become one of the first in the region to enable international flights, after the majority of Latin American airports closed their doors to commercial activity since March, leaving only the possibility of rescue or repatriation flights, as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed.
Although since then the task of stopping the new coronavirus has not been completed, a group of countries, like Costa Rica, already has dates for the eventual returns of commercial flights.
This is the information that has been released so far by the transport authorities and governments of each of them:
Panama
One of the most important hubs in the region had initially announced its opening for July 23, however, it postponed the entry into operation for another 30 days.
Nicaragua
The government of Daniel Ortega has not decreed the closure of borders since the start of the pandemic, but the vast majority of airlines suspended operations. On July 14, a sanitary protocol for travelers was announced.
El Salvador
This country recently backed down in the plan to open activities, which also leaves the return of commercial air operations undated for now.
Guatemala
The date has been postponed, the last one announced is August 15, but several sanitary conditions must first be met.
Honduras
They announced a plan to reactivate operations, but without defining a date.
Mexico
It has kept its main airport (Mexico City) in operation with “normality” although its operations have decreased.
Colombia
They have already started a pilot plan for domestic flights. They announced a possible opening for international flights with restrictions for September 1.
Chile
There is no scheduled date for opening.
Brazil
Although it maintains the majority of airports in operation, although, with restrictions, it imposed a border closure for foreigners, which only allows the entry of passengers in transit. It already has approved protocols for air transport.
Venezuela
It has been extending the resumption of commercial air operations for periods of 30 days. The last announced date is August 12.
Uruguay
It already has international flights operating. In fact, it is the only country in Latin America that included the European Union in its first list of opening borders.
Paraguay
It does not yet have a date for the reopening of commercial flights.
Peru
It enabled domestic flights to 15 cities on July 15. Airlines were authorized to use only 30% of the seats of the planes and the opening to international flights is evaluated for August.
Ecuador
Resumed commercial domestic flights on June 1, and international flights on June 4. The entry of people to Ecuador by air remains conditional on the results of the so-called PCR tests, which are required of passengers within seven days prior to the flight, or upon arrival in Ecuador if they had not done so at the places of origin.