Greece Extends Covid-19 Travel Restrictions for Domestic, International Flights

Photo source: Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA)

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) has extended travel restrictions for domestic and international flights in Greece, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Domestic travel: Only essential trips allowed

The non-essential travel restriction for domestic flights (travel between prefectures) in Greece has been extended until 6am on Monday, March 1.
The aviation directive (NOTAM) concerns domestic scheduled, commercial and general/business flights and foresees that only essential travel is allowed for health and business reasons, family reunification, and returning to permanent residence.
Exempt from the restrictions are emergency flights, Hellenic national healthcare system flights, state flights, sanitary flights, humanitarian flights, military flights, cargo flights, fire fighting flights, frontex flights, technical landing flights (where passengers do not disembark) and ferry flights (return of with crew without passengers).

Travel restrictions for all international flights

The HCAA’s update for its Covid-19 aviation directives (NOTAMS) extends travel rules and restrictions for all international flights, which includes the 7-day quarantine measure for all arrivals from abroad.

The following travel restrictions will remain in place until Monday, February 22 at midnight:

PLF remains mandatory
The submission of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) by all passengers of international flights to Greece remains mandatory.
The rule also applies to Greek citizens and permanent residents of Greece who travel abroad on flights (outbound travel). They are required to fill out the PLF form before their departure from Greece and present it at border checkpoints.

Mandatory negative Covid-19 test result
ALL travelers from abroad must submit a negative Covid-19 test result (PCR) performed up to 72 hours before arrival in Greece and may also be requested to take a rapid Covid-19 test upon entry (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of 14 days.

7-day quarantine for all arrivals
All passengers entering Greece from any foreign country, including European Union member states, must self-isolate either at their home (for permanent residents) or at the place of temporary residence declared on the PLF, for 7 days. If they are to stay in Greece for a shorter period, the temporary restriction is valid for that period of time, ie until their departure.

UK arrivals
ALL arrivals from the UK must take a PCR test after their seventh day of quarantine in the Greece. If the test is positive the quarantine will be in force for 14 days. If the test is negative the quarantine ends.

Travel ban for non-EU residents
The temporary ban on entry into Greece from outside the EU has also been updated. Citizens from the following 10 countries are excluded from the ban: UK, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Russian Federation and Israel.
It is noted that Japan has been removed from the list of countries exempt from the restriction.

Flights from Turkey remain banned
The HCAA has extended the travel ban for flights from Turkey to Greece. Flights between Greece – Turkey remain suspended.

Arrivals from Russia
Only 500 permanent residents of Russia per week are allowed to enter Greece on flights landing (only) at the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion.