DATA SPOTLIGHT: South Africa

2 June, 2020

This year The Blue Swan Daily will feature some of the leading airlines, airports and country markets for air travel. Here, using the extensive profile insights available to CAPA - Centre for Aviation members to deliver a data snapshot, we look at South Africa, where following the change in the country's coronavirus pandemic alert status from Level 4 to Level 3 on 01-Jun-2020 has enabled the growth of its aviation sector.

South Africa's Department of Transport has confirmed that limited domestic air travel for business purposes will now be allowed, subject to restrictions on the number of flights per passenger per day. Passengers will be required to secure authorisation based on the reason for travel, it says in its guidelines.

The aviation industry will also implement guidelines developed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority to prevent the spread of the virus. These include:

Airports - only passengers will be allowed inside airport terminal buildings, temperature screening will be conducted at terminal entrances and passengers must wear masks. Airports will undergo sanitisation and will feature floor markings for social distancing. Check in counters will feature protective screens and check in agents will wear face shields. All airport personnel will wear masks. Loading capacity for airport buses will be limited to 70%;

Aircraft - full capacity will be allowed in aircraft cabins, except that the last row of seats will be reserved for isolation of suspected cases. There will be no inflight catering or magazines. Boarding will be arranged to minimise personal contact. All aircraft will be disinfected before entering service and after each flight;

The resumption of domestic services will occur in three phases, guided by Port Health capacity at airports. The initial period will serve as a trial to test the system. Commercial operations will initially resume at Cape Town International, Durban King Shaka International, Johannesburg Oliver R Tambo International and Johannesburg Lanseria airports.

The move to phase two will be guided by infection rates in inland provinces and will see the opening of Kruger Mpumalanga International, Polokwane and Bloemfontein Bram Fischer International airports will open. Phase three will follow with operations at Kimberley, Upington, East London, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth airports.

AIRPORTS IN THE COUNTRY

ANNUAL VISITOR ARRIVALS (2010 - 2020YTD)

VISITOR ARRIVALS BY MARKET (2019)

MONTHLY VISITOR ARRIVALS AND SEASONALITY IN DEMAND (2015 - 2020)

SCHEDULE MOVEMENT SUMMARY (w/c 01-Jun-2020)

ANNUAL CAPACITY (2012 - 2020*)NOTE:*the values for this year are at least partly predictive up to six months and may be subject to change.

WEEKLY DOMESTIC CAPACITY (2017 - 2020*)NOTE:*the values for this year are at least partly predictive up to six months and may be subject to change.

WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL CAPACITY (2017-2020*)NOTE:*the values for this year are at least partly predictive up to six months and may be subject to change.