Germany is issuing travel bans for seven additional countries with the new COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Germany is restricting arrivals from UK, Ireland Brazil, and more. There are major concerns over the new virus variants becoming more widespread in Germany.
German citizens and residents of Germany and diplomats are explicitly exempt from the new regulation. They are allowed to return to Germany from these countries. Entry of cargo, humanitarian and medical flights are also allowed.
German national airline, Lufthansa’s flights are expected to hit due to this regulation. The airline has already reduced the number of flights from Brazil and South Africa to the lowest.
Lufthansa resumed flights between Maldives and Germany on 28th October 2020 and continues to operate weekly flights.
Lufthansa group says they are optimistic about the recovery of the aviation sector after vaccines roll out in 2021. The airline is even avoiding using the full USD10.9 billion bailout given by the German government.
Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said, “One way or another, 2021 will be the year of recovery. Somewhere between the second and the third quarter, the vaccination effect will come into place. Hopefully, quarantines will be pushed back by vaccination and testing. And that will give us sharp recovery around the summer period,"