Pandemic crisis: Suspended flights from Romania

The seventh Military Ordinance marked that Romania has suspended flights to and from the US, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Turkey and Iran for 14 days starting April 5, 23:00 (Romania time), as the The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced on Sunday evening.

The travel restrictions, which are included in the seventh military ordinance issued by the Romanian authorities amid the coronavirus pandemic, do not apply to freight, mail or humanitarian flights.

The same official document prolongs the suspension of flights to and from Germany and France, for a period of 14 days from April 8. Italy and Spain go under the same regulations, as prolonged at the end of March.

However, charter flights for the transportation of seasonal workers from Romania are allowed, further regulations being issued by the country receiving the helping hands.

Bringing stranded citizens home

The European Commission is helping Member States to coordinate assistance and consular repatriation operations of EU citizens from across the world, wherever they may be. Once a Member State activates the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre coordinates all actions with the European External Action Service and with Member States. The Commission can also co-finance up to 75% of the transportation costs. Non-EU citizens can also benefit from this assistance.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, around 250,000 people have been flown back to Europe thanks to flights organised by the Member States. In addition, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has facilitated the repatriation of more than 12,200 EU citizens to Europe from China, Japan, the U.S., Morocco, Tunisia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Cabo Verde, Georgia, Gambia, Senegal, Haiti, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Canada, Peru, Thailand, Nepal, Guatemala, Ghana, Jordan Algeria, Peru and Seychelles.

According to the official data provided by EC, no Romanian was repatriated up until now using the facility offered by EU Civil Protection Mechanism.