Medellin Reports

[Blakman]

27 August 2020.

Colombia begins recovery.

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27 August 2020.

Colombian President Iváand Duque Márquez has announced 15 airports will reopen in September, including Bogota. This is an important step for the necessary restart of aviation in the country.

"Air transport is an essential public service that people need for different reasons, such as work, health, family or leisure purposes," said Peter Cerdá, IATA's Regional Vice President for the Americas. "Aviation's restart is good news which will allow for the resumption of mobility and integration of the country. With this decision, the sector and its extensive value chain, which includes tourism and commerce in Colombia, can begin to rebuild. While this is the first step towards a total reopening, we call on the government to continue the open channels of communication with the industry that will allow us to commence the process for also reactivating international flights. ".

Cerdá thanked the Colombian President and his Minister of Transport, Angela María Orozco, the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, the Director of Aerocivil, Juan Carlos Salazar and the respective mayors for their openness and willingness to collaborate with the industry.

"During the meeting with the authorities, we conveyed our wish to continue working together to increase the available capacity and facilitate the exchange of global best practices to ensure the safety of passengers and employees," he added.

With the biosafety protocols approved by Colombian authorities and implemented by the industry, aviation will not become a vector for spreading the virus. The industry has demonstrated that all safeguards exist to restart the industry. Proof of this are the more than 70,000 passengers who have traveled in the last five months on humanitarian flights and the first test route between Bucaramanga and seeúcuta, which has transported more than 1,000 passengers. No known COVID-19 transmissions have been reported from these flights.

"Air transport is an essential public service that people need for different reasons, such as work, health, family or leisure purposes," said Peter Cerdá, IATA's Regional Vice President for the Americas. "Aviation's restart is good news which will allow for the resumption of mobility and integration of the country. With this decision, the sector and its extensive value chain, which includes tourism and commerce in Colombia, can begin to rebuild. While this is the first step towards a total reopening, we call on the government to continue the open channels of communication with the industry that will allow us to commence the process for also reactivating international flights. ".

Cerdá thanked the Colombian President and his Minister of Transport, Angela María Orozco, the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, the Director of Aerocivil, Juan Carlos Salazar and the respective mayors for their openness and willingness to collaborate with the industry.

"During the meeting with the authorities, we conveyed our wish to continue working together to increase the available capacity and facilitate the exchange of global best practices to ensure the safety of passengers and employees," he added.

With the biosafety protocols approved by Colombian authorities and implemented by the industry, aviation will not become a vector for spreading the virus. The industry has demonstrated that all safeguards exist to restart the industry. Proof of this are the more than 70,000 passengers who have traveled in the last five months on humanitarian flights and the first test route between Bucaramanga and seeúcuta, which has transported more than 1,000 passengers. No known COVID-19 transmissions have been reported from these flights.

Before the crisis, aviation generated some US $ 7. 5 billion to the Colombian economy, equivalent to 2. 7% of the country's GDP, and supports some 600,000 direct and indirect jobs.

"There are still several issues that need to be resolved," concluded Cerdá. "However, aviation will once again take off in Colombia. This will allow our industry to become one of the pillars of the economic recovery of the country after the pandemic. ".

Before the crisis, aviation generated some US $ 7. 5 billion to the Colombian economy, equivalent to 2. 7% of the country's GDP, and supports some 600,000 direct and indirect jobs.

"There are still several issues that need to be resolved," concluded Cerdá. "However, aviation will once again take off in Colombia. This will allow our industry to become one of the pillars of the economic recovery of the country after the pandemic. ".

[Voyajer1]

It was on the last paragraph of the article, the negotiations between countries and those that are open to travel now including Brazil and Mexico. I guess they deleted it.

Unless I missed it, didn't see anything about November for international flights in the article.

[Knowledge]

Thank you, this answers my questions indirectly. 1. Second hand reports about government declarations. I read the government declarations themselves. The health and transport ministries have in fact cleared the way for international flights to resume as of September 1. 2. You don't know what the government's definition of proof would be and the government has not yet declared test results would be a condition of entry.

1. Articles out there now which state this. This is what the Transport Minister has stated. "Lo que s tenemos claro es que se eliminara la restricciand al ingreso a partir del 1 de septiembre, que probablemente se exigira prueba de covid".

2. Proof. Likely a negative PCR test within 48-72 hours of departure. 5 minute rapid tests from Abbott will be out in September, and the government just acquired 150 million of them. I'm also guessing that based off the statement from the transport minister that testing may be done on arrival, what kind of testing and how fast that would be, I do not know. It's reasonable to assume it follows the model of how other countries are doing this and more are leaning on the side of rapid testing or requiring a negative before departure to avoid doing the 14-day quarantine. I mean, that's just a trip killer anyways. We shall see what the days to come reveal.

[SJobs]

This is good news is the Colombian Airline industry is ramping up, getting ready for business. Unfortunately, don't expect international flights till November. Here is the article: https://www.pulzo.com/nacion/avianca...embre-PP959633.

You can forget about Bogota for the September opening. But it is almost certain Medellin or other cities will open in September. I'm in the talks with rental agency and other professional groups who depend on gringo business, at the moment, the general consensus is that there will be flights to Medellin or other cities in Colombia from the US in September, we just don't know when. I have already reserved and paid for my favorite penthouse for 6 months stay, starting 9/8th. I don't care if I get there on 9/29th. Some of the amazing places that I always want to rent but are never available are wide open right now, it's a buyers market. Don't wait.

https://caracol.com.co/emisora/2020/...46_853593.html

https://www.eltiempo.com/economia/se...ionales-533936

[Balboa]

This is good news is the Colombian Airline industry is ramping up, getting ready for business. Unfortunately, don't expect international flights till November. Here is the article: https://www.pulzo.com/nacion/avianca...embre-PP959633.

Unless I missed it, didn't see anything about November for international flights in the article.

[Voyajer1]

This is good news is the Colombian Airline industry is ramping up, getting ready for business. Unfortunately, don't expect international flights till November. Here is the article: https://www.pulzo.com/nacion/avianca...embre-PP959633.

[SJobs]

We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

https://colombia.as.com/colombia/202...77_274030.html

[SJobs]

I don't know about anyone else but can I say reading your posts only makes a bad situation worse for me, the endless pining, your thirst is quite depressing, at least to me, yes many of us want to get there ASAP.

But I don't write about it on here, over and over and over and over.

It's amazing how you could be depressed among all these encouraging news. The door of heaven is about to open, cheer up! By the way, I did share a credible link in my post, it's not all pointless pining. Anyways, I haven't been this happy for a long time, since this fucking lock down started. I got my tickets ready and my 18 year-olds lined up. Instead of being depressed, why don't you try to do the same.

[MMHikeus]

Found this picture on my phone from one of my previous trips, and exploring the Centro area.

I believe it is from around December 2019. It feels like a lifetime ago.

[MMHikeus]

Assuming that travel to Colombia from USA is possible in the next few months. I think it might be wise to buy health insurance coverage in Colombia for the trip, instead of trying to depend on coverage from outside Colombia and trying to deal with coverage / acceptance etc.

Can anyone post the health insurance information available in Colombia for visitors. I think a compilation of insurance information and options would be a great resource for making travel plans.

[Elvis 2008]

Hello,

It has been about 6 months in which we have all had to pause our life, as we knew it, to adapt to a new reality that has made us more supportive, empathetic and resilient. But it is time to return to fly high and resume those plans to explore the world!

Therefore, today we are very happy to be able to tell you that, as of September 3, 2020, Wingo takes off again to fly, initially, through the skies of Colombia and, we hope very soon, by those of the entire region with our unique combination of always safe flights, low prices, flexibility and good vibes. So pack your suitcase again and get ready to take care of yourself, but without stopping living.

During those months ashore, we have not rested for a single moment and we have prepared for this great day that we were looking forward to with great anxiety:

1. We design robust biosecurity and cleaning protocols to guarantee your safety and that of your family.

2. As a guarantee of our commitment to you, ICONTEC granted us its CheckIn Certified quality seal and the Certification in Biosafety Operations, after an exhaustive evaluation of our processes.

3. We renew all the circulation systems and high-efficiency air filters of our aircraft so that you breathe air up to 99.9% free of viruses and bacteria during all our flights.

4. We designed a unique line of uniforms for our crews that includes textiles with repellency technology that prevents fluid transfer, further raising the level of protection for everyone on our aircraft.

5. We created a new boarding model that will allow us to avoid crowds when you fly with us.

6. We became even more flexible and therefore decided to always include a free date change when you buy a ticket at Wingo.

7. We have all trained ourselves to take care of you and take care of ourselves because #We only think about flying.

And for that reason, we now count the days to meet again from September 3. Initially we will operate flights between Bogotá and Cartagena, but we are confident that together we will continue to overcome the pandemic so that the authorities of the region reopen their borders and we can fly together again to the best destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Wingo will continue to be there for you because the violet tone that characterizes our good vibes takes the skies again.

See you on board very soon.

[Elvis 2008]

I don't know how reputable this source is but I've just read this:

https://www.infobae.com/america/colo...tYvXJoLzUqF5LI

For me, I am holding off, I'm hoping for Nov-Dec but I'm willing to wait, I've got a few I've lasso'd that keep me entertained on Whatsapp.

Luminus,

One of my chicas sent me a similar link. It looks like Colombia is getting ready to open up. Now they have to get things set up with the airlines and the like, but it looks like it is going to happen pretty soon. If the Colombian Department of Health is on board, unless things change drastically, my bet is that we will see a few flights open up this month, and I am shocked that this is happening.

[Puntz79]

Two questions: 1. What is the source of your statement that "proof of a covid negative test will be required"? 2. What is the definition of proof?

1. Articles out there now which state this. This is what the Transport Minister has stated. "Lo que sí tenemos claro es que se eliminaría la restriccióand al ingreso a partir del 1 de septiembre, que probablemente se exigiría prueba de covid".

2. Proof. Likely a negative PCR test within 48-72 hours of departure. 5 minute rapid tests from Abbott will be out in September, and the government just acquired 150 million of them. I'm also guessing that based off the statement from the transport minister that testing may be done on arrival, what kind of testing and how fast that would be, I do not know. It's reasonable to assume it follows the model of how other countries are doing this and more are leaning on the side of rapid testing or requiring a negative before departure to avoid doing the 14-day quarantine. I mean, that's just a trip killer anyways. We shall see what the days to come reveal.

[Luminus]

I don't know how reputable this source is but I've just read this:

https://www.infobae.com/america/colo...tYvXJoLzUqF5LI

As always use the info as you will.

For me, I am holding off, I'm hoping for Nov-Dec but I'm willing to wait, I've got a few I've lasso'd that keep me entertained on Whatsapp.

[Knowledge]

That did not answer either of my questions but thank you for responding anyway.

The new 5 minute $5 Abbott test 97% accuracy will come with an app that actually will display results. There are others coming as well. Should be widely available in two months. You can buy a bunch and test chicas too.