Aircrew arriving in Hong Kong could be made to observe the same quarantine rules as the rest of the public under a proposal being mulled by officials. Photo: Nora Tam
Health & Environment
Hong Kong fourth wave: airline sector braces for impact as city mulls 14-day quarantine for aircrew amid coronavirus pandemic
The move, which one source worries could ‘kill’ the industry, would end a long-standing exemption enjoyed by airlines
Cathay Pacific said to be pushing back hard on proposal, though it is unclear to what effect
Topic | Coronavirus Hong Kong
Danny Lee
Danny Lee
Published: 2:38pm, 21 Jan, 2021
Hong Kong is mulling plans to order all arriving aircrews to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks in response to a recent coronavirus outbreak, a move that would end a long-standing exemption and present the embattled aviation industry with a fresh crisis. According to three sources familiar with the plan, the government is considering ordering pilots and cabin crew, including local staff, to quarantine in a hotel if they stay in Hong Kong for more than two hours. Another source said the plan could “kill” the airline industry if it proceeds, while a separate insider said aircrew would also be subject to repeated testing.
Cathay Pacific Airways is understood to be pushing back hard against the proposal, but it is unclear what success it would have. Aircrew are at greater risk of carrying the virus, despite wearing protective equipment, given they are interacting with passengers and flying abroad, yet they have been exempted from quarantine orders that apply to the general public.
All foreign aircrew are currently required to take designated transport to hotels, isolate in their rooms throughout their stay and pass a Covid-19 test before flying in. Local aircrew are tested on arrival in Hong Kong and have to stay in a hotel for 24 hours while waiting for their results.
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基不可塞
2021-1-21 16:55:05
Singapore has prioritised the aviation industry in offering the Covid-19 vaccine to airline workers first, meaning the city state’s national carrier could be the world’s first vaccinated airline. Separately, airport workers in Hong Kong are set to become the latest group of residents required to undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing starting next month. Airport chiefs held a hastily called meeting with airline representatives on Thursday morning as concerns have grown over the number of workers traced to various coronavirus clusters in the community, among other worries.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced on Wednesday it would suspend all long-haul flights from Friday, affecting 270 weekly trips, in response to tougher Covid-19 measures imposed by the Dutch government affecting the national carrier. Additional reporting by Elizabeth Cheung
基不可塞
2021-1-21 16:55:47
柒柒柒：你班BNO仲想走
:^(
:^(
:^(
:^(
我攪藝術嘅
2021-1-21 16:57:31
咁仲邊撚度會有機肯飛香港
大毒梟高可晴
2021-1-21 16:57:32
遲撚咗成年
:^(
小熊貓袋中麵包
2021-1-21 16:59:49
:^(
免檢一定無事啦 祖國咁強大
母看沸鹽
2021-1-21 17:00:53
此回覆已被刪除
基不可塞
2021-1-21 17:00:56
同病毒傾好咗
回港易冇事
:^(
:^(
:^(
基不可塞
2021-1-21 17:02:17
擺明車馬為BNO而來啦
:^(
:^(
冇資格出聲嘅人
2021-1-21 17:02:29
但係回港易照開
:^(
冇資格出聲嘅人
2021-1-21 17:02:41
推返
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魚翅航空無女
2021-1-21 17:03:12
篤航死，但外國航空唔過夜就無事
金判坤
2021-1-21 17:03:25
又會時間剛剛好依家先封
:^(
魚翅航空無女
2021-1-21 17:03:28
無錯，Art of Deal
墮天使夜羽
2021-1-21 17:03:49
長途機點唔過夜
:^(
AG+++
2021-1-21 17:04:27
計到剛剛好，31/1就會生效
老蘭(執葉雞蟲)
2021-1-21 17:05:23
呃of屌 by Carrie lam
Hajime_Shinkai
2021-1-21 17:06:16
Danny Lee :0)
信住一半先
bruceqin
2021-1-21 17:06:34
BA 咪得囉，好似係飛兩隊CREW，全部人唔落地
Aircrew arriving in Hong Kong could be made to observe the same quarantine rules as the rest of the public under a proposal being mulled by officials. Photo: Nora Tam
Health & Environment
Hong Kong fourth wave: airline sector braces for impact as city mulls 14-day quarantine for aircrew amid coronavirus pandemic
The move, which one source worries could ‘kill’ the industry, would end a long-standing exemption enjoyed by airlines
Cathay Pacific said to be pushing back hard on proposal, though it is unclear to what effect
Topic | Coronavirus Hong Kong
Danny Lee
Danny Lee
Published: 2:38pm, 21 Jan, 2021
Hong Kong is mulling plans to order all arriving aircrews to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks in response to a recent coronavirus outbreak, a move that would end a long-standing exemption and present the embattled aviation industry with a fresh crisis. According to three sources familiar with the plan, the government is considering ordering pilots and cabin crew, including local staff, to quarantine in a hotel if they stay in Hong Kong for more than two hours. Another source said the plan could “kill” the airline industry if it proceeds, while a separate insider said aircrew would also be subject to repeated testing.
Cathay Pacific Airways is understood to be pushing back hard against the proposal, but it is unclear what success it would have. Aircrew are at greater risk of carrying the virus, despite wearing protective equipment, given they are interacting with passengers and flying abroad, yet they have been exempted from quarantine orders that apply to the general public.
All foreign aircrew are currently required to take designated transport to hotels, isolate in their rooms throughout their stay and pass a Covid-19 test before flying in. Local aircrew are tested on arrival in Hong Kong and have to stay in a hotel for 24 hours while waiting for their results.