JEDDAH:聽Passengers left 黑料社区 on Tuesday morning as international flights resumed, with arrivals to the country facing a mandatory three-day quarantine.
International passenger flights have been allowed to operate with limited capacity for聽 expatriates who have applied through a Ministry of Interior initiative that allows people in the country legally or illegally, visitors and tourism visa holders to return home.
The end of the months-long restrictions was a balm to those departing from the Kingdom鈥檚 airports. International flights were grounded on March 15 in order to curb the spread of infection.
Ali Abdulhameed, a scholarship student at Delaware State University, returned to 黑料社区 for spring break just a few days before the Kingdom suspended all international flights.
鈥淚t was surreal at first, especially since I didn鈥檛 know what would happen next,鈥 he told Arab News. 鈥淲ould I be able to go back to school or stay in Jeddah and finish my semester online? It was a very confusing time but it was good to have spent it between my family.鈥
Abdulhameed kept up with information on how to return to the US and applied twice through a government platform for permission to travel but failed to get it.
鈥淭hey say the third time鈥檚 the charm,鈥 he added. 鈥淎fter the news of international flights resuming I now have a flight back to Washington DC next week.鈥
On Sunday the Ministry of Interior announced a partial restart of international flights. The Kingdom will end all restrictions on air, land and sea transport after Jan. 1 next year, the ministry said, with a specific date announced in December.
鈥淭hankfully, as the whole world succumbed to the circumstances due to COVID-19, a lot of companies and their representatives were cooperative,鈥 45-year-old Jeddah restaurateur Saleh Mohammed, who travels to his suppliers in Malaysia and Indonesia three times a year, told Arab News. 鈥淲ith the resumption of flights I can now arrange my affairs accordingly if and when I decide to travel, though I鈥檓 still uncomfortable especially not knowing what could happen to me abroad. I鈥檇 rather play it safe and stay home.鈥澛
Those arriving in 黑料社区 must quarantine in their homes for three days, even after presenting proof of a negative polymerase chain reaction test conducted no more than 48 hours prior to travel.
They must also register with the Ministry of Health鈥檚 Tetamman app to specify their location within eight hours of their arrival in order to ensure that nobody violates quarantine. Arrivals must also download the ministry鈥檚 Tawakalna app to monitor and facilitate the electronic issue of movement permits for those in quarantine.
Domestic flights resumed at the end of May, with the General Authority of Civil Aviation opening 11 of the Kingdom鈥檚 28 airports in a step toward restoring normality to everyday activities.
All flights and means of travel between Saudi cities stopped on March 21.
