More disruptions at Hong Kong International Airport due to COVID-restrictions.

Last week we saw the beginning of the 3rd wave of COVID-outbreak in Hong Kong, and the government reacted directly by imposing more restrictions again, this time also targeting flight crews who previously were exempted from testing on arrival to Hong Kong.

However, now all crew has to be tested on arrival in Hong Kong, and fears that the entire flight crew will be quarantined for 14 days in case one member of the crew tests positive has scared a lot of airlines away from Hong Kong again. The possible flight disruptions by having whole crews quarantined, in addition to the personal affect it will have on those crew members have forced several airlines to cancel flights to Hong Kong again.

The first carriers to cancel flights were American Airlines and United Airlines, whereas British Airways says they will continue as normal and comply with the testing. KLM is rumored to be routing their flights via Bangkok, so they can do a crew change there and then a separate crew can fly Bangkok-Hong Kong – Bangkok without leaving the plane and therefore avoiding the testing. Air Canada seems to not be operating any more into Hong Kong, and Emirates has reduced from daily flights to only a few per week again.