Central & South America

Argentina

April 1, 2020

Argentina extended its border closure to April 13. Argentina is allowing humanitarian flights as well as ferry flights coming to Argentina to return passengers to their home country. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation Flights to Argentina.

These flights needs a special permit that must be approved by ANAC (NATIONAL Agency of Civil Aviation).

For more information, visit the U.S. Embassy in Argentina’s website.

Bolivia

March 27, 2020

Authorities have issued a quarantine thereby suspending all flights (including domestic travel). With this suspension, only humanitarian, cargo, medevac or state will be permitted and the Bolivian government will need to give such permissions. No fights are permitted to bring Bolivian nationals back in the country and no repatriation flights are permitted. This order is through April 15 but may be extended.

Brazil

March 28, 2020

Borders now have been closed to all foreigners. Non-Brazilian citizens can only:

• Transit though Brazil, so long they don’t enter the country
• Cross land borders to catch a flight in Brazil, so long they have approval from the federal police (immigration authority) and go directly from the border to the closest AOE in Brazil.
• Crew members and airline employees are still exempt of this rule.

PORTARIA Nº 152, DE 27 DE MARÇO DE 2020

Chile

March 26, 2020

Only Chileans and nationalizeds foreigners can enter Chile by international flights. Cargo and ambulance flights (MEDEVAC) are exceptions. There are no restrictions on domesstic flights as of now. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Chile.

March 15, 2020

• As of Monday, March 2, the Ministry of Health requires international travelers to submit a sworn declaration listing the countries they have visited in the past 30 days.
• Travelers who have visited China or another “affected country” within the past 30 days will be screened for signs of the virus by Health Ministry officials.
• Chile’s Health Ministry announced on March 14 the expansion of mandatory 14 day self-quarantine to all passengers arriving from Iran, China, France, and Germany, in addition to Spain and Italy.

For more information visit the U.S. Embassy in Chile website.

Colombia

March 26, 2020

According to the measures implemented by the Colombian government in decree 457 of 2020, general aviation activities are suspended throughout the national territory, except in the following cases:

* Humanitarian emergencies including transportation of patients, medical personnel or equipment, medications, and samples for COVID-19 testing. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Colombia.

* Cargo

Note: crews cannot leave the transit area or, if possible, not get off the plane.

Costa Rica

March 26, 2020

Effective midnight 18, March 2020 until 12 April 2020, foreign passengers flying into Costa Rica are restricted.

Aircrafts can still operate to drop off Costa Rican nationals or pick up foreigners flying out. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Costa Rica.

Please advise operators that in transit flights, ambulance, fuel stops or any other operations not dropping foreigners to Costa Rica will not be affected or restricted.

Ecuador

March 23, 2020

Please be informed that due to health emergency, Ecuadorian Government has closed the borders. No one is allowed to enter Ecuador, not even crew members. Therefore, overnight in Ecuador for crew rest is not allowed.

Crew on transit have to remain in the plane, using facemasks and gloves all the time. Crew swap or crew rest is not possible in Ecuador at all, due to restrictions of COVID-19.

The only operations allowed at this moment are: Cargo fights, Emergency flights (medevac), Private/charter aircrafts (arriving ferry to pick up pax), Tech stops

Also, please keep in mind that aircrafts are allowed to remain only 1h on ground. Due to curfew, restricting mobility, hours of operation are: SEGU from 1200 to 2000 UTC; SEQM from 1300 to 2000 UTC. SEMT from 1200 to 0000 UTC

Processing time to obtain landing permit is 3h. Documents needed are: Aircraft: registration, airworthiness, insurance policy and noise certificate where MTOW is shown

Crew: licenses, medicals and last flight simulator check

Pax: GenDecs and letter from operator requesting authorization to pick up persons in Ecuador (template letter attached)

El Salvador

March 26, 2020

International airports (MSSS, MSLP) are closed to GA and commercial flights through April 3 due to COVID-19. Exceptions are cargo, military and humanitarian flights. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to El Salvador.

Guatemala

March 26, 2020

Effective 17 march, 2020 from 0559 UTC Guatemalan airspace will close for all international flights except for cargo flights and domestic aviation.  This ban is effective for 15 days. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Guatemala.

Honduras

March 26, 2020

Honduras has closed its borders but the government is working with private operators for repatriation flights. Information needed includes:

• Aircraft tail number:
• Aircraft type:
• Pilot-in-Command:
• Arrival/Departure Date and Location:
• Passenger list:
• Routing:

Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Colombia. Visit the U.S. Embassy Honduras website for more.

Panama

March 21, 2020

Panama is suspending all international arrivals and departures except for cargo, humanitarian, medevac and private/charter flights with purpose of repatriating Panamanian citizens which may be allowed under a special permit.

Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Panama.
Visit the U.S. Embassy in Panama website for more information.

Paraguay

March 22, 2020

Paraguay has closed its borders. This measure affects people who are not Paraguayan citizens. Only nationals, foreign residents, members of diplomatic missions or international organizations can enter the country.

Private and charter flight are accepted. They can repatriate Paraguayans or evacuate foreign citizens. Note that overnight stops are forbidden for foreigner crew. MEDEVAC flights can also operate to bring back Paraguayans or evacuate foreigner citizens out of Paraguay.

Peru

March 26, 2020

The only flight operations that will be approved by the Embassy will likely be diplomatic, air ambulance, and humanitarian flights.

The operation must be coordinated with, and approved by the Peruvian Embassy in the country of origin before operational permit application can be applied for. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Peru.

Venezuela

March 26, 2020

Venezuela is now restricting all flights to and within the country. Read IATA’s guidance on Repatriation flights to Venezuela.

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