Travel dreams grounded as South Africa flights banned

Heartbroken travellers are still in shock after learning that South Africa, along with five other African countries, were put back on the UK’s red list from noon yesterday.

- HELEN COFFEY

Only British and Irish nationals and residents will be allowed into the UK if they have been in one of these destinations in the previous 10 days; all other travellers will be banned.

A temporary flight ban was put in place from midday yesterday until 4am on 28 November. After that date, even those permitted to enter the UK will have to cover the cost of spending 10 days in a mandated hotel quarantine facility.

The news, announced late on Thursday, was a devastating blow to the many people with trips booked in the coming weeks.

Aside from the uncertainty of claiming a refund for expensive flights and hotel stays, many thwarted travellers’ plans involved spending time with family in South Africa after months, and even years, apart.

Kerry Thompson tweeted from South Africa: “I’ve not seen my parents for 2.5 years due to Covid restrictions.