Hong Kong’s Government continues to hit airlines with temporary flight bans for flying in COVID positive passengers, with 100 bans issued this year.
Hong Kong authorities have issued 100 flight bans this year because airlines flew in passengers who later tested positive for COVID-19. Six flight bans were issued in June and six so far in July. While less strict than they once were, the hugely disruptive flight bans prevents an airline from flying passengers into Hong Kong on a particular route for five days.
Three more flight bans were issued on Monday
As reported in Bloomberg, Hong Kong authorities hit three more airlines with flight bans on Monday. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Thai Airways were all in the firing line. The Hong Kong Government initiates the ban if five or more passengers test positive for COVID-19 on arrival. All passengers are required to undergo a COVID-19 test on arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
The same authorities also forbid airlines from boarding passengers heading to Hong Kong if they cannot produce a negative test result from a pre-departure PCR test. The problem for airlines is that they take these test results in good faith. If a person is certified as COVID-free and meets Hong Kong’s other entry rules, the airlines fly them in. But Hong Kong authorities hold the airlines responsible for any passengers testing positive on arrival.
Hong Kong authorities impose strict COVID-related rules on airlines flying in passengers. Photo: Hong Kong International Airport
Airlines are punished for something beyond their control
On Sunday, July 3, Qatar Airways flew in 14 passengers on QR818 from Doha (DOH). How do we know that? The Hong Kong Government publishes a list of infected passengers the airlines fly in every day. It doesn’t go so far as to name the unfortunate passengers, but it does provide flight details and the seat number. For their troubles, Qatar Airways won’t be flying in any passengers on QR818 for five days. They can fly passengers out of Hong Kong.
Thai Airways appears to have run into trouble for flying in 16 infected passengers on TK070 on July 2. Those passengers all began their trip in Istanbul. Thai also flew in four infected passengers from Bangkok on TG638 on Sunday, July 3 – just coming in under the threshold.
Malaysia Airlines flew in five passengers who tested positive on arrival on MH072 from Kuala Lumpur on July 3. That airline wasn’t named on Monday, but there can be a lag of a few days before the airline gets the official word on a flight ban.
A page of the long document Hong Kong’s authorities publish detailing times airlines fly in COVID positive passengers. Source: Hong Kong SAR Government
Hong Kong remains a problem until the rules ease further
By far the unluckiest carrier was hometown airline Cathay Pacific, which has flown in the most number of infected passengers. Given Cathay Pacific has the largest presence at HKIA, that’s not unexpected. Several of the Cathay Pacific flights on specific days recently fall just under the five-passenger mark. Others, like CX254 coming in from London Heathrow on Sunday, have carried in at least five COVID-positive passengers.
These flight bans used to run for two weeks and applied if an airline flew in any infected passengers – so the five-passenger five-day ban represents an easing of the rules. But the ban is costly for the airlines and hugely disruptive for passengers. There are some signs Hong Kong is on the cusp of further easing travel restrictions but flying into Hong Kong remains a difficult affair for everyone concerned.
Source: Bloomberg