BOGOTA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Ivan Duque announced the reopening of international flights on Saturday after five months of closure due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The first post-closure Viva Air Colombia flight to Miami departed the Rafael Nunez International Airport in Cartagena on Saturday, and before the flight, Duque along with several other officials inspected the air terminal's biosecurity protocols.
During the last five months, the Cartagena airport has served to carry out more than 90 humanitarian operations, repatriating around 3,000 people.
The Office of the President said in a statement that in order to enter Colombia after Sept. 30, it will be mandatory to submit a negative COVID-19 test taken within 96 hours before the flight.
Visitors must also fill out the "CheckMig" registry, available on the Colombian immigration department's website, arrive at the airport three hours ahead of the flight, and wear a face mask inside the airport as well as on the plane.
Starting Sept. 21, international flights to other cities in Colombia will be formally reopened. Enditem
