FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP WELCOMES EASIER TRAVEL TO THE USA
US lowers risk level for South Africa and United resumes weekly nonstop flights
JOHANNESBURG, 13 FEBRUARY 2022 – The Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) welcomes Thursdays announcement that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lowered its travel advisory risk level for South Africa.
“The US lowering its risk level for South Africa is not only fantastic news for the inbound tourism industry but will have a positive ripple effect on the outbound travel sector as well,” says Euan McNeil, Managing Director, Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa. “South African travellers, both business and leisure travellers are eager to get out and we’ve already seen international travel enquiries pick up in 2022 as global travel restrictions ease and the world starts to open up again.”
Fully vaccinated South African travellers with a negative COVID-19 test can enter the US, with restrictions.
The US announcement follows news that air access between Cape Town and New York is also resuming. United has announced that it will resume its nonstop three flights a week between Cape Town and New York, from 5 June 2022. United is the only airline to offer direct, nonstop Cape Town to New York flights.
“The US is a large source market for South Africa so it is encouraging that air access is resuming so that there is enough capacity to service the expected demand,” says McNeil.
Earlier this week, Australia also announced that it would reopen for fully vaccinated travellers from 21 February 2022, with further details to be announced.
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FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP SOUTH AFRICA
Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) SA is part of Flight Centre Travel Group, an Australian-based international travel company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The company is listed on the ASX, with a market cap of AU$4.16 billion and a current share price of AU$20.83 as of 13 February 2022. Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa is a level 1 BEE company with three leading brands: Flight Centre, Corporate Traveller and FCM. FCTG SA is wholly owned and has been recognized as one of Deloitte’s Best Companies to Work for in South Africa for 14 consecutive years.
