By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
Peru Will Reopen Its Borders With Europe On December 15.
On Dec. 15, Peru will take a definitive step in its process of reopening tourism, with the government again allowing flights more than eight hours long to its territory.
As announced, since Oct. 5, and as part of phase four of an economic reactivation plan, international operations with neighboring countries were authorized. And since early November, international flights lasting up to eight hours long have been allowed into and out of the country.
With this new announcement made by Minister of Health Pilar Mazzetti, Peru will begin its last step in the process, with which it will be able to resume its routes to Europe that have been paralyzed since March. At the moment, international flights to the entirety of South America as well as a number of destinations in Central and North America are allowed because they fall under the eight-hour threshold. But as a result, there remain many other routes that are yet to be reinstated.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications gave further details and confirmed through Twitter that the first authorized flights will connect Lima with Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and London.
“Taking the precautions of previous tests, the affidavit upon arrival and with the follow-up for 15 days, we are protected to avoid inconveniences,” Mazzetti added. The follow-up of the passengers who have been traveling has been successful, so the same measures would be followed.
According to peru21, 23 million passengers passed through Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, last year. According to the general manager of the Association of International Air Transport Companies Carlos Gutiérrez, in the most optimistic scenario, the 2019 numbers will be reached by the end of 2021 and in 2023 at the latest.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a drop in ticket sales. Inés Hochstadter, Despegar’s general manager for Peru and Ecuador, explained that the drop has been by 30%. For this reason, there is an expectation that the ticket sales will reach at least 40% of the 2019 numbers.
The destinations abroad with the most demand by Peruvians are Cancun, Mexico; Miami; New York; Mexico City; Buenos Aires; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Cartagena, Colombia. As for the domestic destinations with the greatest reception in the midst of the crisis are Cusco, Piura, Arequipa, Tumbes, Tarapoto, Iquitos and Paracas.
The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.
