Updated November 2026
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order effective November 3, 2026, makes no exception for private aviation. Under current CDC Ebola travel guidance, every person boarding a U.S.-bound flight from any foreign country must sign an attestation before departure. Guests, crew, and citizens confirm no presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for 21 days.
The order runs through December 18, 2026, unless CDC modifies or rescinds it before then (IDSA Reporter, 2026). For a Private Client, the practical question starts weeks earlier, with where every guest has traveled and which U.S. airport will receive the flight. Handled early, each requirement becomes a quiet pre-departure formality that never reaches the day of travel.
What the CDC Ebola Travel Guidance Requires as of November 2026
The DRC Ministry of Health confirmed the current Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province on May 15, 2026 (CDC Health Alert Network, 2026). The newest federal measure for flights, an attestation order CDC published October 22 and amended October 28, governs who may board. An earlier measure, an entry suspension, governs which foreign nationals may enter.
Under CDC Ebola travel guidance, everyone boarding a U.S.-bound flight from any foreign country must attest to no DRC presence within 21 days. The order took effect at 11:59 p.m. on November 3, 2026, and covers commercial, general aviation, and private aircraft. It reaches U.S. citizens, nationals, lawful permanent residents, foreign travelers, and flight crews, including travelers in transit.
Does the CDC Ebola Attestation Apply to Private Jets and Charter Flights?
Much of the early coverage frames the attestation as an airline check-in step, which leads many travelers to assume a private departure sidesteps it. There is no general exception for private or business aviation, so every guest and crew member signs before wheels-up. The narrow exemptions cover government-authorized transport of Ebola patients and exemptions CDC grants for humanitarian or important government reasons (IDSA Reporter, 2026).
The attestation duty rests with the aircraft operator. The order covers U.S.-bound operators under Part 91, the general operating rules, and Part 135, the Federal Aviation Administration charter rules.
Every aircraft operator carries four specific duties under the order:
- Collect a signed attestation from every traveler before boarding.
- Deny boarding to any traveler without one, outside CDC’s narrow exemptions.
- Retain each attestation for at least 42 days after arrival.
- Accept either paper or electronic signatures.
A parent or authorized adult completes the attestation for any traveler under 18, and false statements carry criminal penalties. On a family journey with children aboard, the adult signing for each minor needs that child’s complete itinerary for the prior 21 days.
How the 21-Day Rule Shapes a Private Itinerary
The 21-day window reflects Ebola’s maximum incubation period, and travelers become eligible to board on day 22. After leaving the DRC, travelers must remain outside the United States for the full 21 days.
The clock starts on the day a traveler leaves the DRC, regardless of which country the U.S.-bound leg eventually departs from. A guest who flew out of Kinshasa and then spent a week in London still waits until day 22 before boarding for home.
Experienced travelers build that buffer into the itinerary from the first planning call, long before an aircraft is requested. A third-country stay in Europe or the Gulf can absorb the window, so the return leg departs on a date that is already compliant.
Uganda, South Sudan, and the Designated Screening Airports
Uganda and South Sudan carry separate rules for U.S. citizens and nationals, and those rules decide where a flight carrying them may land.
South Sudanand Uganda Do Not Trigger the DRC Boarding Bar
A second common misreading holds that time in Uganda or South Sudan triggers the same boarding bar that applies to DRC presence. For U.S. citizens and nationals, those two countries trigger airport routing and health screening, while the 21-day wait applies only to the DRC.
A separate CDC order, in force since May 18, 2026, and renewed in 30-day steps, suspends entry of certain foreign nationals. It covers foreign nationals present in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. It does not apply to U.S. citizens and nationals, which matters for any party with international guests (U.S. Embassy in Uganda, 2026).
Designated U.S. Airports for Uganda and South Sudan Arrivals
CDC requires U.S. citizens and nationals present in Uganda or South Sudan, and not the DRC, within 21 days to enter only through designated airports. CDC’s current list names Washington Dulles (KIAD), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (KATL), and New York’s Kennedy International (KJFK) (CDC, 2026). Screened travelers then receive CDC text reminders to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) removed Houston (KIAH) from the original list for flights departing after August 31, 2026. CDC applies the routing rule even when an aircraft only stops in Uganda or South Sudan, whether or not anyone disembarks. Because the list has already changed once, confirm it on CDC’s site before every departure.
For a private return, that routing can replace a planned arrival at a home-field FBO, the fixed-base operator terminal that serves private aircraft. A fuel stop at Entebbe (HUEN), for example, reshapes the arrival plan for every U.S. citizen aboard.
Which Regions Carry CDC Travel Health Notices Right Now
CDC Travel Health Notices run on four levels, and a Level 4 notice, the highest, advises travelers to avoid all travel to a destination. Since August 4, 2026, CDC has held a Level 4 notice for Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces in the DRC (CDC Travel Health Notices, 2026). CDC also advises against nonessential travel to Haut-Uélé and Tshopo provinces (CDC Travel Health Notices, 2026).
CDC posted a Level 1 notice for Kenya on October 19, 2026 (CDC Travel Health Notice: Kenya, 2026). It reports that Kenya’s Ministry of Health confirmed an imported case and linked cases in Nairobi. Notices and boarding rules answer different questions, so a complete review checks both against every country on the routing.
How Private Clients Stay Ahead of Changing Ebola Travel Rules
Magellan Jets has flown Private Clients to more than 100 countries since 2008. It is an asset-light private aviation solutions provider offering Jet Cards, On-Demand Charter, Fractional Ownership, and Aircraft Sales & Management, without owning aircraft. Per its On-Demand Charter page, the Magellan Jets Preferred Network admits fewer than 100 vetted operators of roughly 3,000 licensed in the U.S.
On a Magellan Jets journey, Flight Support and the dedicated Private Aviation Advisor review each guest’s 21-day travel history as they build the manifest. They coordinate attestation collection with the operator before departure and, when Uganda or South Sudan presence applies, route the return through a designated airport.
Magellan Jets maintains round-the-clock operational monitoring, with a dedicated team available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Every overseas On-Demand Charter mission includes international handling, customs coordination, and risk assessment. Two Dossier guides go deeper: how Magellan Jets monitors international travel restrictions and how customs clearance works on international charter flights.
Operator vetting carries extra weight when the operator must collect every attestation and retain the records for 42 days. Magellan Jets leadership has held the Chairman seat of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Board for more than six years. The Magellan Jets approach to safety also includes WYVERN Wingman certification.
Corporate travel teams now account for the attestation on every executive’s U.S.-bound international leg. Magellan Jets for Business gives each company a single point of contact, with no call centers in between. Finance teams receive detailed flight data, spend metrics, and structured reporting they can hand directly to internal audit.
Planning a Compliant Return From Central and East Africa
The attestation turns on one question for every traveler, and careful planning answers it weeks before anyone reaches the aircraft. Private Clients who share each guest’s recent countries early keep the return date fixed, the arrival airport predictable, and the day of travel quiet.
CDC Ebola travel guidance can change with each renewal, so every compliant itinerary begins with a conversation about where each guest has been. Contact a Private Aviation Advisor to plan your next U.S.-bound journey under the rules in force today.
Frequently Asked Questions About CDC Ebola Travel Guidance (FAQs):
Does the CDC Ebola Attestation Apply to Private Jets?
Yes, the order covers commercial, general aviation, and private aircraft, with no general exception for private or business aviation. The narrow exemptions cover government-authorized transport of Ebola patients and exemptions CDC grants for humanitarian or important government reasons. Every other guest and crew member signs before departure.
What If a Guest Was in the DRC Within 21 Days?
That guest cannot board a U.S.-bound flight until day 22 after leaving the DRC, and the rule applies to U.S. citizens as well. A third-country stay that covers the full window keeps the return leg on schedule.
Do Travelers Who Visited Uganda or South Sudan Face the Same Restriction?
U.S. citizens and nationals face no boarding bar, but they must enter through a designated airport and complete health screening. CDC currently lists KIAD, KATL, and KJFK, then sends screened travelers text reminders to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving those countries.
How Long Will the Ebola Attestation Order Last?
The attestation order runs through December 18, 2026, unless CDC modifies or rescinds it earlier. The separate entry suspension for foreign nationals has renewed in 30-day steps since May 18, 2026, so check both on CDC’s site.
This article reflects federal guidance as of November 5, 2026. Ebola travel rules change frequently, so confirm current requirements directly with CDC and consult a physician or legal advisor about individual circumstances.
For guidance specific to your itinerary and guests, Contact a Private Aviation Advisor.
