The government in Kigali has suspended all arriving and departing commercial passenger flights effective today March 20 at midnight for at least 30 days.
The last flight will be Turkish Airways at 01:55 March 21.
Only cargo & emergency flights will continue to operate to allow the country get the necessary goods and supplies amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Rwanda currently has 11 confirmed coronavirus cases after confirming its first case last week.
According to the statement from the Ministry of Health, even the initial two weeks period of closure of schools and places of worship may be renewed amidst the soaring CODIV-19 threat in Rwanda. The 14-day quarantine on travellers into the country has also been re-emphasized.
The restrictions on air travel will greatly affect the country’s national carrier, RwandAir. Other affected airlines include; KLM, Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, Jambojet, Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, among others.