This Tuesday, of the approximately 40 passengers who tried to board a TAP repatriation flight, only 10 met the Angolan Government's requirements for travel.
"Yesterday we were told that there was room for the TAP flight, we reconfirmed the flight. At the airport we went to the TAP counter to see if anything other than the ticket and the covid-19 test was necessary and we were told that we cannot travel because a document came from Angola saying that TAP cannot take us because our Government does not authorise it," Sandra Antunes told SIC.
The passengers affected accuse TAP of not taking responsibility and not helping with expenses. In addition to having to pay for accommodation and food, passengers are required to undergo a covid-19 test before travelling. However, information about the cancellation of the flight only arrived after the test had already been carried out.
"I had to pay for the covid-19 test, which is already the third one, it's already 303 euros, for each test it's 101 euros," revealed Sandra Antunes.
"There are people starving, sleeping on the street, in hospitals. It's a complicated situation, people don't have the means to stay here any longer," said another passenger who accused TAP of not wanting to take responsibility. "TAP is not responsible for our accommodation or our food. We have spent money on the tests, I have already spent 300 euros," he said.
In August it was expected that the airspace in Angola would open, which would facilitate the return to Angola. However, the government decided to extend the restrictions until September 8. A decision that led to the Portuguese airline having to cancel flights already scheduled.
