KIMBERLEY. – South Africa is slowly returning back to a (new) normal and one of the perks of level two lockdown, is that you can now fly for business or leisure within South Africa and permits are no longer required. Currently, Level 2 still requires that all passengers complete the Health Form which must be handed to Port Health at the airport, download your form here.
Why drive when you can fly? It’s safer and more convenient given the duration and time spent on the road driving from Kimberley to Cape Town or from Kimberley to Johannesburg.
Kimberley to Cape Town and Johannesburg
Airlink now flies between Kimberley to Cape Town, as well as between Kimberley and Johannesburg.
Karin Murray, marketing manager, says Airlink’s aircraft are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air filters, like those used in hospital operating theatres.
These filters are effective at blocking 99.97% of particulates, including Coronavirus molecules. “These filters help to continually sterilise the air in our cabins, which is renewed entirely every three minutes.”
Clean air
Murray explains the Airlink Embraer E-Jets and Embraer Regional Jets were designed considering the most up-to-date engineering best practices, including all major standards (FAA/ EASA, SAE, and ASHRAE).
“E-Jets exchange their entire volume of cabin air 20 to 30 times every hour (air is totally exchanged every 2-3 minutes). This is 10 times more frequently than the air in an office, and 5 to 6 times more than hospitals.”
The way it works, is:
1 – Outside air is taken from the main engines/APU.
2 – Hot air is conditioned in the cooling packs.
3 – Cooled outside air is mixed with recirc filtered air in the mixing chamber in a 50 to 50 ratio.
4 – Particles including bio-contaminants (fungus, virus and bacteria) are retained in the HEPA filters.
5 and 6 – Air is distributed throughout the cabin by diffusers located near the overhead bins and exit the return grills located next to the floor; the outflow valve controls the cabin pressure by modulating the airflow from pressurized area to the outside environment.
Minimise cross-infection
The cabin air conditioning system is designed to minimize cross infection between aircraft rows. The airflow passes through the passenger head position and exit in the same cabin section (not front to back or vice-versa).
The protection effect of E-Jets cabin air outlets is high due to its proximity to the passenger head position (L), as the air dispersion is lower. Studies indicate the E-Jets air outlet valve may act as an additional contaminant barrier, acting as an air curtain to minimize cross infection.
Travel safely
“Together with the Airports Company South Africa, we have implemented all of the necessary effective sanitisation and distancing measures to stop and prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus while on an Airlink flight,” concludes Murray.
You can fly with confidence, book your flights directly on Airlink’s website here on www.flyairlink.com or your travel agent and remember 5 important items before you fly.
Book your flights from Kimberley directly here.
