COVID-19: How RwandAir is Curbing The Spread of Infection

While the COVID-19 outbreak has been one of the biggest challenges airlines and countries around the world are facing today, Rwanda has been commended by the World Health Organization for its immediate and effective response to curb the spread of the virus. The efforts invested paid off as the country has been able to gradually open up its borders and resume economic activities including aviation.

Preventive measures introduced to curb the spread of the COVID-19 within the country include making it compulsory to wear a face mask in public, installing hand-washing stations or hand sanitizer dispensers in public areas, social distancing guidelines to name a few.

RwandAir introduced a deep-clean programme of its fleet to protect its passengers and staff as well. Every surface of each aircraft is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after each flight to protect its customers and crew. In addition, the airline worked very closely with the Rwandan government and applicable regulatory authorities to implement health and safety protocols to ensure customers could fly with confidence once operations resumed.

The actions taken have successfully limited the transmission of the virus and kept the number of fatalities to a minimum, while protecting the lives of millions of people and creating a safe environment for travelers arriving and transiting through Kigali International Airport.

When travel restrictions were relaxed in August, the Government of Rwanda took additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All passengers departing, transiting or arriving in Rwanda are required to present a certificate of a negative SARS-CoV 2 Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 test performed within 120 hours of departure time from a certified laboratory.

A second COVID-19 test (IgM and PCR test) is conducted for China-bound passengers as required by the new regulations for all international arrivals in the People’s Republic of China. To facilitate the smooth implementation of this requirement, RwandAir in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda agreed to conduct tests at designated hotels where passengers in transit are booked. Passengers originating from Rwanda are tested in the designated hotels as well. The new measures and facilitation will guarantee safe and efficient processing of all Guangzhou-bound customers transiting through Kigali.

To support these safety initiatives, Rwandan Migration waived transit visas to all Guangzhou-bound passengers transiting through Kigali International Airport.

Upon clearing immigration, passengers are met by RwandAir customer relations staff, directed to standby transit buses and transported to designated hotels.

The process at designated hotels is simple. Each passenger is profiled and checked into their complimentary rooms, provided by RwandAir. Doctors from Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) meet each passenger at their hotel and carry out two separate COVID-19 tests - the PCR test and the IgM test - as requested by the Chinese government at no additional cost.

Quick and efficient testing means the results can be ready within 24 hours and two separate test certificates issued to customers testing negative, to confirm their results and suitability to fly.

Customers who tested negative send their unique ID and phone number to the Chinese Embassy so that it can easily access their PCR results on www.rbc.gov.rw in order to produce a QR Code before departure.

Complimentary bus transportation service is provided back to Kigali International Airport whereupon transiting customers board their flight to Guangzhou, safe, secure and COVID-19-free.

RwandAir with the support of the Government of Rwanda has introduced these measures and the new health protocols to reaffirm its commitment to the safety, security and health of its customers and staff, now and in the future.