China suspends 26 more air routes, 4 from US, over Covid-19 infections
- American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have two routes each suspended from January 24 after passengers test positive
- Chinese aviation authority aiming to minimise imported cases, as one of the latest sparks outbreak in Shanghai
The suspensions, which take effect from the week of January 24, include two flights apiece operated by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The two carriers’ last flights to land in China respectively carried seven and nine passengers who tested positive, the Chinese aviation authority said.
The 26 routes affected included flights from Melbourne, Frankfurt, Paris, Vancouver, Toronto, Milan and Cairo.
It took to 64 the total number of inbound flights from the United States that China has suspended this year, based on figures from the aviation regulator’s website.
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Covid-19 roadblocks lengthen commute times for satellite city residents working in Beijing
The US government on Wednesday said China’s flight cancellations were “inconsistent with its obligations under the US China Transport Agreement”.
China had already in September cut the total number of flights heading into the country to only 200 a week – 2 per cent of the pre-pandemic level – according to the aviation authority.
Zhang Wenhong, a senior infectious diseases expert, said that imported cases were putting pressure on China’s efforts to contain the virus, with the Omicron variant surging across the globe.
“Circuit-breaker” flight cancellations have been enforced by the Civil Aviation Administration of China as the country maintains stringent border restrictions to try to prevent imported infections spreading locally.
It has powers to suspend a carrier from operating a route if passengers are found to have Covid-19. If five or more test positive on a flight, the carrier will be suspended from operating the route for two weeks. When cases reach 10 or more, the suspension will be increased to four weeks.
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Streets and trains empty in central Chinese city of Anyang as Covid-19 lockdown begins
After landing in the country, they must spend at least 14 days in quarantine, and some must complete a further health monitoring period of seven days.
