Airlines stare at fresh storm as new Corona variant emerges

By Bonface Otieno & Gerald Andae

Airlines, including national carrier Kenya Airways, are staring at a slowdown in business ahead of the festive season as nations impose new travel restrictions on South Africa and seven other countries due to a highly infectious new coronavirus strain.

The discovery of the new Omicron coronavirus variant in South Africa has caused a panic move globally forcing nations to impose travel bans.

The European Union, the United States, Israel, United Arab Emirates, the UK, among other nations, have suspended flights to southern Africa while Singapore, Italy, and Israel have placed all of those nations, plus Mozambique, on their red lists.

Kenya Airways has said it will not fly passengers coming in from Southern African countries to Dubai after UAE stopped admission of persons from these countries to their territory.

The new variant is likely to hit transit passengers who use Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a hub for connecting flights.

Qatar Airways has announced that it has suspended flights to and from South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Zambia.

This article originally appeared in the East African.

Photo: File