(TODAY NICARAGUA) For the third consecutive time, airlines operating in Nicaragua again delayed the resumption of their flights to the country, this time until September, due to Covid-19.
The airlines had already warned last month that the dates are tentative and highly dependent on the behavior of the pandemic, as they had said in mid-May, when all air travel was suspended, and repeated in June and now again in July.
initially, the airlines had scheduled to restart operations in July, then postponed to August and for now, the planned dates are:
- Aeroméxico suspended until September 1, 2020
- United Airlines suspended until September 2, 2020
- Avianca Airlines suspended until September 2, 2020
- Delta Airlines suspended indefinitely
- American Airlines suspended until September 2, 2020
- Copa Airlines suspended until September 5, 2020
- Spirit Airlines suspended until August 17, 2020
Nicaragua Tightens Requirements for Airlines and Passengers
In mid-July the Ministry of Health (Minsa) finally issued a protocol for national and foreign travelers four months after the first Covid-19 case was recognized in the country in March. For over three months thousands of Nicaraguans stranded in different countries and ships have sought entry to their country.
Minsa now requires Nicaraguans seeking to enter proof of a negative test for Covid-19 within the previous 72 hours. Foreigners that test positive will not be allowed entry.
Days later, the Civil Aeronautics Institute announced that airlines are required to send photocopies of the passports of passengers and flight crews 72 hours in advance to authorize their arrival in the country.
In a notification sent to the airlines on July 18, Civil Aeronautics indicated that the photocopies must be attached to “the technical documentation of the aircraft, for due process (authorization)”.
The Government announced with great fanfare on Tuesday, July 14, the reopening of Managua’s Sandino international airport; however, hours and days later “they hardened all requirements” to enter the country.
Despite the Covid-19 preventive actions being taken around the world, the Ortega government kept its international airport open servicing freight and charter flights as well as passenger flights of La Costeña that flies domestically and resumed flights on June 26th.
