Kenya&nbsp;announced Tuesday that flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu had been suspended, just days after&nbsp;Somalia&nbsp;said diplomatic ties with its neighbour had been normalised following months of tensions.

The&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said commercial flights to and from&nbsp;Somalia&nbsp;would be paused for three months, without giving a reason.

"All flights between&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;and&nbsp;Somalia&nbsp;are suspended expect medevac flights and United Nations flights on humanitarian missions only," the regulator said.

KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe told AFP the suspension was "a decision by the government" but gave no further details.

The directive appeared to catch some Somali aviation officials and travel agents by surprise.

"We had not been given a prior notice, and there's been no explanation about the reason so far," an airport tower operator in Mogadishu told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The suspension comes a day after&nbsp;Somalia&nbsp;said shipments of khat from&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;remained on hold. Khat is a narcotic leaf popular in&nbsp;Somalia.

Somalia&nbsp;announced last week that bilateral ties with&nbsp;Kenya&nbsp;had been restored, citing "the interests of good neighbourliness" as motivating its decision.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-somalia-agree-to-normalise-ties-after-tensions-262304">Kenya, Somalia agree to normalise ties after tensions</a>

Nairobi said it took note of the statement and was looking forward "to further normalisation of relations by the Somali authorities."

Mogadishu cut off diplomatic relations in December after Nairobi hosted the political leadership of Somaliland, a breakaway state not recognised by&nbsp;Somalia's central government.

Somalia&nbsp;has long bristled over what it calls&nbsp;Kenya's meddling in regions over its border, while Nairobi has accused Mogadishu of using it as a scapegoat for its own political problems.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/somalia-accuses-kenya-of-meddling-in-internal-affairs-350316/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The pair have also engaged in a long-running territorial dispute over a stretch of the Indian Ocean claimed by both nations believed to hold valuable deposits of oil and gas, and have sought international arbitration over the matter.

Kenya announced Tuesday that flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu had been suspended, just days after Somalia said diplomatic ties with its neighbour had been normalised following months of tensions.

Kenya announced Tuesday that flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu had been suspended, just days after Somalia said diplomatic ties with its neighbour had been normalised following months of tensions. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said commercial flights to and from Somalia would be paused for three months, without giving a reason. "All flights between Kenya and Somalia are suspended expect medevac flights and United Nations flights on humanitarian missions only," the regulator said. KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe told AFP the suspension was "a decision by the government" but gave no further details. The directive appeared to catch some Somali aviation officials and travel agents by surprise. "We had not been given a prior notice, and there's been no explanation about the reason so far," an airport tower operator in Mogadishu told AFP on condition of anonymity. The suspension comes a day after Somalia said shipments of khat from Kenya remained on hold. Khat is a narcotic leaf popular in Somalia. Somalia announced last week that bilateral ties with Kenya had been restored, citing "the interests of good neighbourliness" as motivating its decision. Also read | Kenya, Somalia agree to normalise ties after tensions Nairobi said it took note of the statement and was looking forward "to further normalisation of relations by the Somali authorities." Mogadishu cut off diplomatic relations in December after Nairobi hosted the political leadership of Somaliland, a breakaway state not recognised by Somalia's central government. Somalia has long bristled over what it calls Kenya's meddling in regions over its border, while Nairobi has accused Mogadishu of using it as a scapegoat for its own political problems. The pair have also engaged in a long-running territorial dispute over a stretch of the Indian Ocean claimed by both nations believed to hold valuable deposits of oil and gas, and have sought international arbitration over the matter.

In surprise move, Kenya suspends flights from Somalia

As the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-pandemic-will-push-60-million-into-extreme-poverty-world-bank-299794"> coronavirus</a> lockdowns are being lifted around the world, carriers and airports desperate for passengers are finally opening up airways with safety protocols being rolled out which include fewer flights, more layovers, and hygiene rules.

The new airline travel post-COVID-19 shapes a new age of air travel as airlines modify services post-lockdown measures to resurrect&nbsp;the struggling aviation sector.

Half-empty aircraft and temperature checks at airports using thermal scans to spot people with fever, temperature checks rolled out for passengers and crew will be some of the new measures in place.

Most airlines have made wearing masks mandatory. Some airlines have removed in-flight magazines and meals. Parking of big planes has impacted international travel. Kazakhstan's Air Astana has put together guidelines to follow social distancing. Thailand has mandated no in-flight food or water and made it clear that passengers must wear masks.

In Indonesia, passengers must provide medical certificates.

According to the Airport Authority of India guidelines, passengers must download the Aarogya Setu app, wear a mask and&nbsp;other protective gear, maintain social distancing of at least four feet distance, ensure web check-in,&nbsp;carry printout of boarding pass, wash and sanitize&nbsp;hands frequently and cooperate with airport staff

Temperature checks, thermal scanners, half-empty aircraft, hand sanitizers, masked passengers and crew has now become normal in the new age of air travel across the globe.

As coronavirus worries ease in China, passengers are ready to take off, however, some feel confident, while others are still a bit uneasy.&nbsp;

"I more or less don't feel that worried anymore, that's how I feel now," Gao Jie, fitness blogger, said.

"Asymptomatic cases, that's the main thing which worries me," said Ba Tuo who arrived in Beijing on a flight from Xinjiang 
&nbsp; 
Several air carriers like Air France are boarding passengers seated at the back of the aircraft first&nbsp;to limit traffic jams in the aisle. Some are removing in-flight magazines, scrapping meal services on shorter routes,&nbsp;and parking the duty-free cart.

For many like Korean Air there is a company requirement for some seats in the middle of the plane to remain unoccupied. &nbsp;

"Starting from March 9 which is when COVID-19 emerged, we have allocated seats based on the number of reservations in order to maintain distance between passengers who are on board," Kim Dong-Wook, deputy general manager at Korean Air, said.

However, Australia's Qantas is set to ramp up domestic flights without social distancing since the air carrier finds it an impractical measure.

"Now social distancing on an aircraft is impractical, to give you a sum of the numbers. International Air Transport Association has&nbsp;come out and said that if we take the middle seat out, airfares will probably go up by around 50 per cent, they're not recommending it, the European Union isn't which means airfares are going to be eight to nine times more than they are today," Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO said.

While aircraft in Malaysia and Indonesia need to be half-empty, for airlines in the United States and Europe, the rule is not mandatory.

Carriers like Lufthansa have made it mandatory to wear a mask on board even as its first flight from Germany touched down in Greece, instructions by the civil authority officials followed soon after disembarking.

"Those of you that are negative, and I hope you all are, you will continue to quarantine at the place of residence you have declared. Pay attention: we do not go out during the quarantine, we don't move around, they will look for you, there is a Euro 5,000 fine, along with criminal consequences," the civil protection authority told passengers.

Exiting passengers were being accommodated in a hotel until the results of their coronavirus tests arrive.

"I will quarantine in Zakynthos, but maybe I have to wait now several hours&nbsp;until I know the result, and then I want to travel as fast as I can there," Michaela Schmidt, who works in the tourism industry on Zakynthos island while returning to Greece for work from Austria, said.

While India has taken a cautious approach, Pakistan has already resumed domestic operations in five cities with 60 per cent capacity. Pakistan's total number of flights has dropped from 369 to 68 due to the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;

With most countries resuming domestic operations, international travel will be some of the last to recover, for American Airlines like Delta, widebodied planes like Boeing 777 that flew long haul international routes are now being parked in droves, however, with safety protocols now in place, the coronavirus-ravaged aviation sector is set to eventually take off.

As the coronavirus lockdowns are being lifted around the world, carriers and airports desperate for passengers are finally opening up airways with safety protocols being rolled out which include fewer flights, more layovers, and hygiene rules.

As the coronavirus lockdowns are being lifted around the world, carriers and airports desperate for passengers are finally opening up airways with safety protocols being rolled out which include fewer flights, more layovers, and hygiene rules. The new airline travel post-COVID-19 shapes a new age of air travel as airlines modify services post-lockdown measures to resurrect the struggling aviation sector. Half-empty aircraft and temperature checks at airports using thermal scans to spot people with fever, temperature checks rolled out for passengers and crew will be some of the new measures in place. Most airlines have made wearing masks mandatory. Some airlines have removed in-flight magazines and meals. Parking of big planes has impacted international travel. Kazakhstan's Air Astana has put together guidelines to follow social distancing. Thailand has mandated no in-flight food or water and made it clear that passengers must wear masks. In Indonesia, passengers must provide medical certificates. According to the Airport Authority of India guidelines, passengers must download the Aarogya Setu app, wear a mask and other protective gear, maintain social distancing of at least four feet distance, ensure web check-in, carry printout of boarding pass, wash and sanitize hands frequently and cooperate with airport staff Temperature checks, thermal scanners, half-empty aircraft, hand sanitizers, masked passengers and crew has now become normal in the new age of air travel across the globe. As coronavirus worries ease in China, passengers are ready to take off, however, some feel confident, while others are still a bit uneasy. "I more or less don't feel that worried anymore, that's how I feel now," Gao Jie, fitness blogger, said. "Asymptomatic cases, that's the main thing which worries me," said Ba Tuo who arrived in Beijing on a flight from Xinjiang Several air carriers like Air France are boarding passengers seated at the back of the aircraft first to limit traffic jams in the aisle. Some are removing in-flight magazines, scrapping meal services on shorter routes, and parking the duty-free cart. For many like Korean Air there is a company requirement for some seats in the middle of the plane to remain unoccupied. "Starting from March 9 which is when COVID-19 emerged, we have allocated seats based on the number of reservations in order to maintain distance between passengers who are on board," Kim Dong-Wook, deputy general manager at Korean Air, said. However, Australia's Qantas is set to ramp up domestic flights without social distancing since the air carrier finds it an impractical measure. "Now social distancing on an aircraft is impractical, to give you a sum of the numbers. International Air Transport Association has come out and said that if we take the middle seat out, airfares will probably go up by around 50 per cent, they're not recommending it, the European Union isn't which means airfares are going to be eight to nine times more than they are today," Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO said. While aircraft in Malaysia and Indonesia need to be half-empty, for airlines in the United States and Europe, the rule is not mandatory. Carriers like Lufthansa have made it mandatory to wear a mask on board even as its first flight from Germany touched down in Greece, instructions by the civil authority officials followed soon after disembarking. "Those of you that are negative, and I hope you all are, you will continue to quarantine at the place of residence you have declared. Pay attention: we do not go out during the quarantine, we don't move around, they will look for you, there is a Euro 5,000 fine, along with criminal consequences," the civil protection authority told passengers. Exiting passengers were being accommodated in a hotel until the results of their coronavirus tests arrive. "I will quarantine in Zakynthos, but maybe I have to wait now several hours until I know the result, and then I want to travel as fast as I can there," Michaela Schmidt, who works in the tourism industry on Zakynthos island while returning to Greece for work from Austria, said. While India has taken a cautious approach, Pakistan has already resumed domestic operations in five cities with 60 per cent capacity. Pakistan's total number of flights has dropped from 369 to 68 due to the COVID-19 crisis. With most countries resuming domestic operations, international travel will be some of the last to recover, for American Airlines like Delta, widebodied planes like Boeing 777 that flew long haul international routes are now being parked in droves, however, with safety protocols now in place, the coronavirus-ravaged aviation sector is set to eventually take off.

New age of air travel post-lockdown to witness half-empty aircraft, temperature checks at airports

Consequences of the Coronavirus - Air travel is restricted, international business close down

Hong Kong will suffer a heavy economic loss due to its airport shutdown caused by disruptive protests, said a government official from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday.

Illegal airport protests to cost Hong Kong heavily: SAR official

Hong Kong's airport was open for business again on Tuesday, a day after a mass protest by pro-democracy activists inside the terminal brought the air-transport hub to a standstill.

Hong Kong airport reopens after protest disruption