South Africa
No sanitisers on flights - Mbalula─── 06:20 Fri, 25 Sep 2020
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says there will be no hand sanitisers on board planes when air travel resumes.
Restrictions on international travel were among the first to take effect when the lockdown was announced in March.
International travel will now be permitted from 1 October under level 1 of the lockdown.
“Our airlines are fitted with HEPA, because in terms of the seating arrangement you don’t have a social distance inside the airlines and the HEPA is assisting us to eat the virus from inside and that is what is actually done,” Mbalula said.
“It does not mean the coronavirus cannot catch you but it will minimise the chances.
“What you will not see inside the airline is sanitiser because the airline has got flammable substances on board so when you get on board, don’t ask for sanitiser because you won’t get it but you must put on your mask.”
Mbalula conducted an inspection at the Cape Town International Airport on Thursday.
The airport is one of three airports, along with OR Tambo International Airport and King Shaka International Airport, that will be open to international travel.
“We went to OR Tambo, from OR Tambo we took a flight to King Shaka International Airport because there were complaints that were raised that there is no compliance inside the airlines.”
He further warned against complacency in the transport industry during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mbalula is expected to provide more details around the transport regulations in the coming week.