Ebola Warning Carries New Flight Operation Concerns

After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa a “public health emergency of international concern” last week, measures to limit the spread of the deadly disease are now in effect. Trip support provider Universal Weather and Aviation noted that the possibility of exposure now extends beyond flights originating in affected regions and, for operators, passenger travel history has now become a dispatch-critical planning variable.

All flights carrying any U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or preapproved excepted aliens who were in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan in the 21 days before their travel to the U.S. will be required to arrive at one of several specific major airports, where travelers may be subject to enhanced medical screening by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These airports include Washington Dulles (KIAD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (KATL), Houston George Bush Intercontinental (KIAH), and New York City John F. Kennedy (KJFK).

Under the regulations, applicable travelers should not be permitted to board unless their itinerary routes them through an authorized designated U.S. first-port-of-entry airport. For green card holders (lawful permanent residents) who have been in that region during the past 21 days, entry to the U.S. is now suspended, with case-by-case exceptions considered for diplomatic personnel, crewmembers coordinated through the Regional Carrier Liaison Group, and certain preapproved excepted aliens.

According to Universal, this adds complications for aircraft operators who must now validate passenger and crew travel history during the previous 21 days, including transit activity through affected countries, even brief layovers; examine separate commercial or private itineraries preceding the current trip; review APIS consistency across all legs; and determine whether the intended first U.S. arrival airport is currently authorized for applicable screening procedures. They must also make the decision as to whether any travelers may be inadmissible before departure.

Other countries such as Kenya, Jordan, and Mexico are also stepping up their screening measures, while the EU has thus far determined the risk to the general population as low. Universal advises that procedures are evolving rapidly and can change with limited notice.

The unfolding crisis has had some direct impact on aviation operations in East Africa, according to Dyami Security Intelligence. For instance, from May 23, passenger flights to and from Bunia Airport (FZKA) in the DRC were suspended and Uganda airlines have stopped all scheduled services to and from the country.

Dyami has also warned clients that worsening aircraft fuel shortages in parts of Africa could restrict the availability of flights needed by people evacuating from areas with Ebola cases. "The event has not produced evidence of Ebola transmission through commercial aviation, but it has already generated route suspensions, airport screening, entry restrictions, passenger rerouting, and exceptional border-health measures," the Dutch security specialist warned in a special bulletin issued this week.