Honduras plans to reopen its airports to first serve local flights and then receive international travel. The Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency has reported that the entire air transport supply chain is ready with biosecurity, health, training and investment measures to start with the commercial activity.
Below you will see which countries and flights are authorized; requirements; isolation; and phases to inform you about the reopening of airports in the country.
I. Authorized countries and flights
1. Which are the countries from which commercial flights will be received?
To date, the countries from which commercial flights will be accepted have not been officially designated, but are expected to come from the United States of America and Central America. From 17 August commercial pilot flights to and from the US and Central America.-
2. Repatriation flights will continue to be carried out
Repatriation flights will continue to operate from international airports. To date, repatriation flights have been made to and from Houston and Fort Lauderdale in the United States and Madrid, Spain; and, on exceptional flights from Colombia and Mexico.
3. Can a passenger fly from another country to one of the countries authorized to fly to Honduras from there? For example, fly from the U.S. to Canada to fly to Honduras.
Yes, as long as biosecurity measures are met in each country.
In addition, this information should be established at the time of entering Honduran territory, to establish the measures applicable on a case-by-case basis, including the most applicable measure is that of the follow-up by officials of the Secretary of Health to verify whether or not passengers develop symptoms.
4. Is the opening for nationals and/or residents? For example, will a Mexican living in one of these countries be allowed to enter?
Only for Hondurans and foreigners who verify their legal residence in the country. But it is expected that in the coming weeks non-resident foreigners are allowed.
5. What happens if a passenger travels from one of these countries, but has an irregular immigration status in that country?
The passenger will be interviewed by a migration officer to understand the immigration status, and passenger must show sufficient accreditation of the reason of the flight to Honduras which at this stage only repatriation is accepted.
6. Will the issuance of visas be resumed at the consulates of Honduras?
No, for the time being.
7. Can private flights from authorized or unauthorized countries with residents of those countries arrive in the country?
Only in the case of authorization issued by SINAGER.
There have been cases of flights from countries that have shown interest in repatriation of Hondurans for which specific charter flights have been authorized.
8. Can a Honduran or Honduran resident hire a private flight to an unauthorized country?
Not at the moment, flights have been restricted solely for repatriation purposes.
II. Requirements
1.- What are the new entry requirements?
a) Complete the information at https://prechequeo.inm.aob.hn of:
• Carry out the immigration pre-registration
• Health Surveillance Sheet
• Submit an Affidavit that will be subject to the country’s health regulations.
• Customs Form
b) All passengers must present a negative result of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test in real time or rapid test with a minimum specificity of 85%, Sensitivity 98% for COVID-19, carried out in a period no longer than seventy-two (72) hours before entering the country. In unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure, the passenger will undergo a clinical evaluation by the staff of the International Health Office.
c) Comply with the Protocol established in the International Health Regulations at the time of entry to the country (clinical evaluation and mandatory quarantine) if the health authority so determines.
d) Comply with the other biosafety measures established in the Protocols of the Secretary of State in the Health Office (mandatory use of a mask).
e) All travelers must ensure that they meet the requirements to leave the country and enter the country of destination. Compliance with the requirements is the responsibility of the passenger.
2. What happens if a foreign passenger develops symptoms?
If a foreign passenger develops symptoms of acute respiratory infection or shows signs or symptoms compatible with a contagious disease, including COVID-19, they will undergo the process established in the protocol of biosafety measures of international airports in Honduras (Civil Aviation Industry) Section 7 and 8 of the handling of suspicious cases in airports and aircraft
3. What are the additional prevention measures that will be carried out at airports?
a) For the purposes of mobilization to and from the airports, you must carry your air ticket either in digital or physical form, which will be valid exceptionally for travelers, including on Saturdays.
b) The circulation and entry to the air terminals of any person who is not a passenger, with the exception of the companion of elderly passengers, people with limited mobility and minors traveling alone, whose parents or guardians must do the respective procedure, is strictly prohibited. .
III. Home isolation
At present, all passengers entering the country are requested to perform home isolation, for this purpose, they must sign an affidavit, consigning their address to carry out the corresponding monitoring by the designated Health personnel, and establishing the symptoms at the time of entering the country, and committing to faithfully follow the indications that are ordered at that time.
The isolation must be carried out for a period of 14 days to 21 days, depending on what is designated by the health official and the condition of the passenger and in complete isolation.
4.- Application Phases in Honduras
Phase 1
Preparation at airports for verification of compliance and implementation of Biosecurity measures, both for employees and passengers. As well as conducting drills at the 4 airports.
This Phase has been implemented as of July 15 of the current year.
Phase 2
It is the technical-operational strategy phase for the activation of commercial air transport, it begins on August 10 of the current year.
Local commercial flights were opened, to evaluate the operation and readjust the biosecurity processes if necessary.
1. The activation of the national air transport of passengers, cargo and mail is projected at the following airports:
a) Toncontín International Airport, in the city of Tegucigalpa, with opening hours from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon.
b) Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport, in the city of San Pedro Sula with opening hours from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 in the morning to 7:00 at night.
c) Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport, in the city of Roatán with opening hours from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon.
d) Golosón International Airport, in the city of La Ceiba with opening hours from Monday to Saturday with a schedule from 7:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon.
Phase 3
For August 17, 2020, the activation of international air transport has been projected, where the countries within which the international commercial pilot flights will be made will be chosen, this phase is subject to the success of Phase 2, so it is conditioned to the following previously being carried out:
a. Analysis and approval of an Interinstitutional Committee that will verify the results of the opening with domestic flights.
b. Operation restrictions at airports.
c. New itineraries agreed with the different actors of civil aviation.
d. Verification of compliance with the established measures.
The airlines, for their part, must deliver the biosecurity manuals to the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency, to be evaluated and authorized accordingly.
In this phase there will be restrictions on schedules and flights.
Phase 4
Consisting of the total reactivation of the airports and its operations in local and international flights.
This information is updated August 10th 2020. For more information contact us at info@central-law.com
