Coronavirus: Hong Kong to axe quarantine exemptions for aircrew on all passenger flights except mainland China routes
- Cathay Pacific is at risk of widespread flight cancellations in coming days, as it is unable to secure enough hotel rooms to meet new quarantine rules
- All non-mainland flights to and from Hong Kong must be operated by closed-loop aircrew, who will be required to spend up to two weeks in quarantine
Airlines in Hong Kong have been told that crew working on non-mainland China passenger flights will lose all quarantine-related exemptions effective midnight on Wednesday, the Post has learned.
Cathay Pacific is already at risk of widespread flight cancellations in the coming days, as it is unable to secure enough hotel rooms to accommodate the new rules.
The city’s flag carrier said the latest tightening of aircrew quarantine restrictions would continue to constrain its ability to operate flights as planned.
“We are making further significant changes to our flight schedule, including cancellations of passenger flights to and from Hong Kong from now to tentatively the first quarter of 2022,” the airline said in a customer notice posted on its website at 10.15am on Thursday.
The company said it was communicating with affected customers and would make alternative flying arrangements for them. They can also opt for a full refund on their tickets.
The carrier told freighter customers there would be cuts to long-haul freighter and cargo-only passenger flights, but did not specify the scale of reduction.
