Cameroonian Authorities has extended restrictions on inbound flights across airports in the country amid COVID-19 concerns. However, flights continue to operate thanks to authorizations.
Cameroon first closed its borders in March 2020 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A corresponding notice to air missions (NOTAM) has been repeatedly extended every three months and the latest version, issued on April 4, 2022, is valid until July 3, 2022.
The NOTAM states that “all Cameroon airports are closed to all inbound international flights due to COVID-19 infection prevention.” However, exemptions are provided for “aircraft in emergency situations, cargo flights, technical stopover flights, medical evacuations, repatriation, special and commercial flights authorized by the government.
The Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) told AeroTime that regular commercial flights were taking place, however.
“All airlines have already resumed their flight frequency from the pre-COVID-19 period, but these flights are still subject to overflight and landing authorizations. And this will be the case until the official reopening of the borders,” the authority said. “Likewise, the NOTAM, which is renewed every 3 months, will only be suspended when the official reopening of the borders is announced.”
As per the NOTAM, all exempt flights are required to receive authorization from the CCAA and are expected to submit a request for landing no later than 48 hours prior to the flight. The NOTAM indicates that medical evacuation flights are exempt from this process.
Local media previously reported that a total of 10 airlines operating to and from Douala International Airport and Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport have benefited from “special authorizations” for a period of almost two years.
Based in Douala, Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co) is one of the largest airlines in the country and is wholly owned by the State of Cameroon.
Updated on April 11, 2022, with a statement from the CCAA