Turkey still open for transit passengers

Published at 11:55 am June 29th, 2021

Passengers wearing protective face masks line up to check-in for a flight to Washington D.C. at the Istanbul Airport, during the first day of resumed Turkish Airlines flights to the U.S. amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Istanbul, Turkey June 19, 2020 Reuters

The country halted flights and direct travel from Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka on Tuesday

Passengers on Turkish Airlines flights from Bangladesh and five other countries may still transit through Turkey, but they cannot enter the country itself.

Ejaz Kadry, sales and traffic officer of the airlines, told Dhaka Tribune: "As before, regularly scheduled flights of Turkish Airlines will operate from Dhaka to Istanbul. Passengers can travel through Turkish Airlines to all countries they are allowed to, except Turkey”

Currently, the airlines operates one flight from Dhaka to Istanbul per day, the official added.

On Tuesday, the Turkish Interior Ministry said Turkey had halted flights and direct travel from Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka due to the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus.

Those who arrive from other places but have been in the countries listed within the last 14 days will need to show a negative PCR test taken within a maximum of 72 hours before entry and they will need to quarantine for 14 days.

Those arriving from Pakistan and Afghanistan or who have been there in the last 14 days will need to quarantine in Turkey for 10 days upon arrival.

Those coming from the United Kingdom, Iran, Egypt and Singapore will need to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival, the ministry added.