A Step in the Right Direction - Honduran Airports Opening Up!

Sowers4Pastors wants you to know there’s some exciting news coming out of Honduras. But before you hear what it is, they also want you to know that it might not be quite as exciting as you think it is. Got it? You are about to be on the receiving end of some really good news, but don’t get carried away until you hear all of the details. Are you ready? Okay. Airports in Honduras are reopening. Now for the specifics about what that means…

The news has reported that Honduran airports are now open for domestic flights. International flights are scheduled to resume on August 17. That’s solidly good news, right? Sure it is!

Honduras has been in a semi-lockdown state since March. That means that the airports have only been open when there was a flight. No shops, restaurants, etc, have been open within the airports. For the past five months, a flight out of the country has meant that airport services like mechanics, fueling, and food/beverages for flights have been contracted as needed.

United and Spirit Airlines have been flying in and out of the country with semi-regularity. A ticket on one of their flights has not been a guarantee that a passenger would fly out on the date and time for which they planned. With the reopening, the expectation is that airlines will be operating more like normal. Airport shops and banks will reopen. Again, we can all agree that this is good news!

WE MISS OUR TEAMS!

This good news does not change the current restrictions concerning who can enter Honduras. For now, with precious few exceptions, you must be a citizen or legal resident to fly into the country. Sowers4Pastors has been trying to get exceptions for Kelsea and Kirstin to be allowed in, but that hasn't been successful so far.

Stories in the news are quoting leaders within the tourism industry saying how great this is. It’s important to realize that this is just an initial step toward normalcy. Allen, Trish, and Russell know how disappointed many people have been that visiting teams have not been allowed in this summer. The reopening of airports is laying the groundwork for things to come. It allows them to reconfigure the airports for biosecurity protocols.

Trish said, “Don’t read too much into this, but it is still a step in the right direction.”

- posted by Christi