After being shaken by hantavirus, the world watches with concern what is happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since the beginning of May, the Central African country has been hit by a resurgence of the Ebola virus. On May 15, the government officially declared the 17th outbreak of Ebola virus disease to strike the country.
And unfortunately, the virus is spreading quite rapidly to neighboring nations. To date, more than 1,100 suspected Ebola virus cases have been recorded in Africa, including 263 confirmed cases and 43 deaths.
The strain behind this outbreak currently has neither a vaccine nor a treatment.
And the virus exhibits a case fatality rate between 30% and 50%. Under these conditions, the World Health Organization has declared the situation an international public health emergency.
Several countries have imposed restrictions on travelers heading to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighboring countries, starting with the United States.
These decisions, taken to prevent the virus’s importation, are now causing difficulties in the aviation sector, starting with Air France.
Since the beginning of May, the Central African country has been hit by a resurgence of the Ebola virus. On May 15, the government officially declared the 17th outbreak of Ebola virus disease to strike the country.
And unfortunately, the virus is spreading quite rapidly to neighboring nations. To date, more than 1,100 suspected Ebola virus cases have been recorded in Africa, including 263 confirmed cases and 43 deaths.
The strain behind this outbreak currently has neither a vaccine nor a treatment.
And the virus exhibits a case fatality rate between 30% and 50%. Under these conditions, the World Health Organization has declared the situation an international public health emergency.
Several countries have imposed restrictions on travelers heading to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighboring countries, starting with the United States.
These decisions, taken to prevent the virus’s importation, are now causing difficulties in the aviation sector, starting with Air France.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: travelers barred from entering the USA…
Since May 22, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a decree limiting entries into the United States.
Thus, the Donald Trump administration “suspends entry to the United States for foreign nationals who have stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Uganda, or in South Sudan within the last 21 days“.
However, whereas commercial flight crews had previously been exempt, with the stricter rule now in place, Air France cabin crew cannot travel to the USA after completing a rotation between Paris and the DRC.
The UNAC, a union counting 2,500 members within the company, fears after having “learned today, Thursday, May 28, 2026, that the cabin crew are now affected by the ban on re-entering the US territory.
Shipments are being rebuilt“.
Kinshasa is served from Paris at four flights per week. The flight is operated with an Airbus A350-900. Air France has 41 aircraft of this type in its fleet.
Discussions have begun between the unions and Air France management to establish a right of withdrawal for crew members who no longer wish to operate on the France–Democratic Republic of the Congo route.
Thus, the Donald Trump administration “suspends entry to the United States for foreign nationals who have stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Uganda, or in South Sudan within the last 21 days“.
However, whereas commercial flight crews had previously been exempt, with the stricter rule now in place, Air France cabin crew cannot travel to the USA after completing a rotation between Paris and the DRC.
The UNAC, a union counting 2,500 members within the company, fears after having “learned today, Thursday, May 28, 2026, that the cabin crew are now affected by the ban on re-entering the US territory.
Shipments are being rebuilt“.
Kinshasa is served from Paris at four flights per week. The flight is operated with an Airbus A350-900. Air France has 41 aircraft of this type in its fleet.
Discussions have begun between the unions and Air France management to establish a right of withdrawal for crew members who no longer wish to operate on the France–Democratic Republic of the Congo route.
Flight Attendants Not Spared by Ebola Restrictions
They could thereby avoid being barred from staying in the United States, and also sidestep the risk of contracting the virus.
“An extraordinary CSSCT meeting has, however, been requested by the UNAC to management more than a week ago.
We have renewed our request to organize an extraordinary CSSCT meeting and invite representative trade unions to join us“, the union specifies.
On its side, the airline has acknowledged receipt of the American decision.
It recalls that French and foreign passengers can no longer travel to the USA after staying in one of the countries affected by the outbreak within the last 21 days.
To read: Dominican Republic, Maldives: Air France redeploys its aircraft for the next winter
“American citizens or residents affected by this measure are still allowed to enter the United States, but only via certain specific airports.
As with all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry conditions imposed by the countries it serves.
Customers affected by these new rules will be informed, and commercial measures have been put in place to allow them to modify their trip without charges“, the national carrier told us.
For now, while the DRC is the source of the outbreak, Uganda has recorded several cases, but all neighboring countries of the giant African nation are now considered at risk.
According to Africa CDC, the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the countries that could be affected are: South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, the Congo, Burundi, Angola, the Central African Republic, and Zambia.
“An extraordinary CSSCT meeting has, however, been requested by the UNAC to management more than a week ago.
We have renewed our request to organize an extraordinary CSSCT meeting and invite representative trade unions to join us“, the union specifies.
On its side, the airline has acknowledged receipt of the American decision.
It recalls that French and foreign passengers can no longer travel to the USA after staying in one of the countries affected by the outbreak within the last 21 days.
To read: Dominican Republic, Maldives: Air France redeploys its aircraft for the next winter
“American citizens or residents affected by this measure are still allowed to enter the United States, but only via certain specific airports.
As with all airlines, Air France is required to comply with the entry conditions imposed by the countries it serves.
Customers affected by these new rules will be informed, and commercial measures have been put in place to allow them to modify their trip without charges“, the national carrier told us.
For now, while the DRC is the source of the outbreak, Uganda has recorded several cases, but all neighboring countries of the giant African nation are now considered at risk.
According to Africa CDC, the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the countries that could be affected are: South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, the Congo, Burundi, Angola, the Central African Republic, and Zambia.
Published by Romain Pommier Journalist – TourMaG.com See all articles by Romain Pommier
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