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Direct flights between Israel and the UAE, slated to begin in October after a landmark normalisation deal, are to be postponed until January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The air link, announced after the two states signed the deal at the White House last month, aims to open up tourism and new business ventures despite the COVID-19 slowdown. But a second lockdown in Israel, which now has one of the world's highest infection rates per capita, has put plans on hold.

The Emirati low-cost airline has announced a new service from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Kathmandu (KTM), with direct flights commencing on 17 October.

The Dubai-based airline has announced amendments to their COVID-19 PCR testing protocols for passengers travelling to, via and from Dubai International Airport. Included within the amendments is the update that COVID-19 PCR testing is no longer required for all transiting passengers unless the passenger destination country requires it, OR for those transiting from a select group of countries. Full information can be found on the airline website.

The airline has announced that it will launch a four-times weekly service between Qatar's capital of Doha and San Francisco from 15 December. It will operate an Airbus A350 that features 36 business-class seats and 236 seats in economy; it’s the fifth global destination Qatar Airways has added during the pandemic, joining Toronto, Brisbane, Accra (Ghana) and Cebu (Philippines).

The country's government has announced that rapid COVID-19 antigen tests will be rolled out at all South Africa’s ports of entry with immediate effect. Any passengers who arrive without an existing negative PCR test result will be screened for symptoms and sent for testing at a cost of R150-170 per person. Results of antigen tests are typically available within 15 minutes, and anyone testing positive must quarantine at a designated facility. However, any passengers who are 'red-flagged' for showing symptoms of COVID-19 may still be quarantined, even with a negative antigen test result on arrival.

The country's government has confirmed that national border regulations have been relaxed to international visitors, including passengers from the UK. As of now, travellers who do not require a visa can enter the country upon the presentation of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours before departure. Passengers must also present either an invite issued by a Moroccan company, or an accommodation booking for the duration of their stay.

The Dubai-based airline has introduced self-check-in and bag drop kiosks at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. The service is now available to customers travelling to all destinations except the US, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong due to additional requirements imposed by the respective countries. The 16 new self-service bag drop machines and eight self-service kiosks complement the existing desks manned by Emirates check-in agents and aim to reduce waiting time for customers during peak periods. More self-services facilities are planned to be added in the coming months.

The government of South Africa has announced that the visa-free travel status of citizens from a number of countries and territories has been reinstated. The countries include: South Korea, Spain, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA, UK, France, Portugal and Iran - however, this visa-free status does not alter other current COVID-19 regulations. Immigration officers will be required to assess the movement and place of origin of the traveller and not the country of origin of the airline concerned. Transit travellers through South Africa by air will be allowed to connect to their destinations, subject to them complying with applicable health protocols but need not produce a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within the previous 72 hours.

The airline has announced that following guidance from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), new requirements will apply to all international passengers travelling to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 5 October. Passengers will now be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result obtained a maximum of 96 hours before departure. The result should be uploaded on a dedicated app/web portal; passengers must download the 'PASS TRACK' app from Google Play or Apple store and enter their personal details. Only disabled passengers, those less than 12 years old or high level international delegates are exempt from this policy.

The country's government has announced that international travel for business and leisure purposes will resume as of today, 1 October 2020, with restrictions in place. Travel for leisure purposes from high risk countries is not permitted. Only high skill visa holders, investors in the economy and diplomats will be allowed entry into South Africa from high risk countries with the necessary approvals in place. Travellers from countries deemed medium and low risk will only be allowed into the country subject to certain visa requirements. Passengers from the African continent will be permitted entry for business and leisure purposes, however will need to comply with other entry requirements. South Africans are permitted to depart the country and travel freely, however will be required to check the entry requirements of the country they wish to travel to. Any returning South African citizen will be subject to entry regulations and protocols and may be required to enter quarantine.

The country's government has confirmed that effective today, 1 October, Uzbekistan's border is re-open and international flights and trains will resume gradually; Uzbekistani citizens and permanent residents are also permitted to enter and exit the country. Travellers arriving from countries categorised as ‘green’, and who have been in these countries for the previous 10 days, are not subject to quarantine. Travellers arriving from countries categorised as ‘yellow', and who have been in these countries for the previous 10 days, must present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to travel, and are subject to home quarantine for 14 days. Finally, travellers arriving from, or who have visited in the previous 10 days, countries categorised as ‘red’ are subject to mandatory government quarantine for 14 days.

The airline has become the latest to offer complimentary COVID-19 cover for their passengers' medical and quarantine related expenses. The policy is available to all passengers with tickets issued from 1 October onwards and provides 24/7 COVID-19 assistance, COVID-19 emergency medical assistance up to 120,000 EUROS, quarantine accommodation costs up to 100 EURO per day, and repatriation costs.

The country's government has said that travellers who wish to make an application to travel from a 'high risk' country to South Africa for essential business purposes may do so as of 1 October. Applications must be made in writing to the Minister of Home Affairs and must demonstrate justifiable reasons for their request. Applications must be directed to: Covid19BusinessTravel@dha.gov.za with the following supporting documentation: a copy of the passenger's passport and/or temporary residence visa; ​proof of business activities to be undertaken in the country; proof of travel itinerary and proof of address or accommodation in South Africa.

Administrators in charge of South African Airways (SAA) have said that they have suspended all operations and put the state-owned airline under “care and maintenance” until funding for a restructuring plan is found. It is understood that all existing cargo and repatriation flights will be undertaken but no new ones will be accepted.

The Dubai-based airline has announced that it has updated its 'OK to board' approval process for some passengers travelling to Iraq; all non-Iraqi nationals travelling to the country will now require this approval for travel using all visa types. The documents required are the passenger booking reference, passport copy and visa copy, and the approval can be obtained at check-in.

The Dubai-based airline has announced that passengers due to depart from Dubai on their services can access a reduced COVID-19 PCR testing price of AED 150; this is available at the American Hospital Dubai Media City Clinic, the American Hospital Al Barsha Clinic and the American Hospital Al Khawanij Clinic (opening soon). Home or office testing is also available and test results will be available within 48 hours. Passengers must present a valid ticket/boarding pass and ID to take the COVID-19 PCR test at these rates.

The Dubai-based airline has announced that it will shortly resume services to Entebbe, Uganda from 1 October and Muscat, Oman from 2 October; this will bring the total airline network globally to 94 cities. The Entebbe service will operate three weekly flights, and the flight from Dubai to Muscat will operate twice per week. Both routes will be served by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Muscat-based Oman Air will resume flights to 18 cities in 12 countries, including the UAE and Qatar by 1 October; this will include two scheduled flights per week to Dubai and Doha, according to an announcement by the airline on Twitter. All flights will depart and arrive on Sundays and Thursdays and will run until at least 24 October initially.

The Dubai-based airline has announced that it will resume passenger flights to South Africa, coinciding with the re-opening of the country's borders on 1 October; passengers services to the South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town will resume from 1 October, to be followed by services to Durban from 4 October. The flights are still currently subject to final government approval.

The Ethiopian national airline has announced that, in conjunction with the re-opening of South Africa's borders from 1 October, it will resume commercial passenger flights to and from Johannesburg and Cape Town. A full list of operational flights across the airline's route network can be viewed on their website.