Location: Botswana
Event: Commercial Flights Ending
The Embassy has learned that as of March 29, there will be no flights out of Botswana on any commercial airline until further notice. Ethiopian Airlines will operate its final flight on Saturday, March 28. U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States are urged to make travel arrangements while flights are still available. The flight is provisionally full but passengers may cancel, so if you are interested in departing Botswana for the United States before all flights end, contact Ethiopian Airlines directly.
Please note that the situation in Ethiopia is fluid and subject to change without notice.
Ethiopian Airlines is continuing flights through Saturday, March 28. As a result, Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is the de facto repatriation hub for U.S. travelers. As of Monday, March 23, 2020, the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has instituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine procedure for all individuals entering Ethiopia. There are two different types of passengers and at this time, they are being treated as follows:
Ethiopia as a final destination: Individuals must quarantine at their own expense at one of these designated hotels:
Skylight Hotel – reservation@ethiopianskylighthotel.com or +251 116 818 181
Ghion Hotel – info@ghionhotel.com or +251 115 513 222
The Skylight Hotel should be the first choice since it is in close proximity to the airport. Please note that the Ghion Hotel is the less expensive hotel, but the Embassy has received numerous complaints about the condition of the hotel (no hot water, unclean, limited food) so travelers should be aware that the hotel may not meet their expectations based on U.S. standards.