It has been reported by media outlets that Turkey has stated that it will resume reciprocal flights with at least 15 countries this month. This follows reports that Spain and Greece have both confirmed they will reopen their borders to visitors over the coming weeks while Italy and Portugal are already welcoming tourists following lockdown.
Turkey plans to open its borders to visitors this month
It has been reported by media outlets that Turkey has stated that it will resume reciprocal flights with at least 15 countries this month. This follows reports that Spain and Greece have both confirmed they will reopen their borders to visitors over the coming weeks while Italy and Portugal are already welcoming tourists following lockdown.
Domestic air travel is already underway across Turkey and, according to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoğlu, international flights to and from 15 countries, including Italy, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Albania, Belarus, Jordan and Morocco, will be resumed later this month. He has also confirmed that Turkey is talking to some 92 countries about resuming connections. No date has been set for restarting flights from the USA and the UK but it has been reported by the Financial Times that the governments of Turkey and the UK are working on an ‘air-bridge’ to allow travel between the two countries without the need for quarantine from the 15th of July.
Currently, travellers arriving at airports in Turkey are assessed for symptoms of Covid-19, asked for contact and destination details and should then self-isolate for 14 days. Clarity is yet to be given on whether overseas visitors will have to self-isolate once international flights resume.
Last month, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, set out new health guidelines for all hotels and resort facilities across the country. In an interview with broadcaster NTV, the minister mandated that face masks and temperature checks must be provided on the way in and buffet-style food service should be suspended. In addition, visitor numbers to Turkey will be strictly capped.
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