Johannesburg: Eyes filled with despair and relief, Belgium’s Valerie Leduc and a friend walk past the ticket counter johannesburg International Airport secured a flight seat home via Ethiopia,
But they will fly in only three days’ time.
“We felt like we had committed a crime,” said the 30-year-old Antwerp resident, who was rejected from his native flight home via Zurich after closing the doors to all non-citizens arriving from Switzerland South Africa,
His new tickets cost him 1,000 euros ($1,130).
Leduc and his friend, Sander Verstralein, later sat down in a cafe reflecting on the last 24 hours.
Stranded passengers are jumping through hoops to leave after several countries banned flights from South Africa on Friday, amid concerns about a new coronavirus variant.
They filled airport cafes on Saturdays, sipped cappuccinos, while calling their embassies and travel agents.
Groups of strangers shared stories and power plugs.
Many are seeking tickets to fly through other African countries such as Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo – which have not yet blacklisted South Africa – while navigating complex last-minute COVID-19 testing requirements.
Many Europeans waited in long check-in queues for an afternoon flight to Addis Ababa.
“We first tried to change our original flight, but it was not possible at all,” said Laura Herde, a 25-year-old student from Berlin, who started hiking with friends when travel was banned.
“There was no room on any flight so we needed to make a new booking,” she told AFP.
“We took the first available.”
A group of German geologists stand in front of a coronavirus testing tent for their second swab since Friday.
Unprepared for the rush of passengers, the printer in the center ran out of toner ink.
“They haven’t been able to print our results or send them an email per se and the manager is at home,” said Robert Gibel, 36, laughing annoyed and shaking his head.
“We now need a PCR test that is no more than 24 hours old,” he explained, yet previously only a vaccination certificate was needed.
His colleagues kept checking news and government websites on their phones to keep track of ever-evolving entry rules.
They were unsure whether they would be quarantined in a hotel or allowed to self-isolate at home after their return.
“It’s all a little crazy,” said 32-year-old geologist Ole Schroeder.
But “at least they’re letting us go home”.
a young South African woman named Nice Kruger Standing in line at a nearby ticket counter, anxiety covered his masked face.
She was desperately trying to join her partner in Dubai before the UAE’s travel ban took effect.
All possible outbound flights for the day were fully booked.
“It’s a complete catastrophe,” said 26-year-old Kruger, as she explained that she had tried multiple airlines.
Air Mauritius “actually paid me for a ticket and then moved the flight to tomorrow,” she said.
“I don’t even know if it’s even worth it,” he sighed, moving closer to the counter.
Less than an hour later, Mauritius announced a one-month ban on flights from South Africa.
But they will fly in only three days’ time.
“We felt like we had committed a crime,” said the 30-year-old Antwerp resident, who was rejected from his native flight home via Zurich after closing the doors to all non-citizens arriving from Switzerland South Africa,
His new tickets cost him 1,000 euros ($1,130).
Leduc and his friend, Sander Verstralein, later sat down in a cafe reflecting on the last 24 hours.
Stranded passengers are jumping through hoops to leave after several countries banned flights from South Africa on Friday, amid concerns about a new coronavirus variant.
They filled airport cafes on Saturdays, sipped cappuccinos, while calling their embassies and travel agents.
Groups of strangers shared stories and power plugs.
Many are seeking tickets to fly through other African countries such as Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo – which have not yet blacklisted South Africa – while navigating complex last-minute COVID-19 testing requirements.
Many Europeans waited in long check-in queues for an afternoon flight to Addis Ababa.
“We first tried to change our original flight, but it was not possible at all,” said Laura Herde, a 25-year-old student from Berlin, who started hiking with friends when travel was banned.
“There was no room on any flight so we needed to make a new booking,” she told AFP.
“We took the first available.”
A group of German geologists stand in front of a coronavirus testing tent for their second swab since Friday.
Unprepared for the rush of passengers, the printer in the center ran out of toner ink.
“They haven’t been able to print our results or send them an email per se and the manager is at home,” said Robert Gibel, 36, laughing annoyed and shaking his head.
“We now need a PCR test that is no more than 24 hours old,” he explained, yet previously only a vaccination certificate was needed.
His colleagues kept checking news and government websites on their phones to keep track of ever-evolving entry rules.
They were unsure whether they would be quarantined in a hotel or allowed to self-isolate at home after their return.
“It’s all a little crazy,” said 32-year-old geologist Ole Schroeder.
But “at least they’re letting us go home”.
a young South African woman named Nice Kruger Standing in line at a nearby ticket counter, anxiety covered his masked face.
She was desperately trying to join her partner in Dubai before the UAE’s travel ban took effect.
All possible outbound flights for the day were fully booked.
“It’s a complete catastrophe,” said 26-year-old Kruger, as she explained that she had tried multiple airlines.
Air Mauritius “actually paid me for a ticket and then moved the flight to tomorrow,” she said.
“I don’t even know if it’s even worth it,” he sighed, moving closer to the counter.
Less than an hour later, Mauritius announced a one-month ban on flights from South Africa.
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