Aircrew members in Hong Kong who recently flew to Britain must self-isolate for three weeks, throwing flights on the route into further disarray
- The requirement comes after the city banned arrivals from Britain in a bid to keep out a more transmissible strain of coronavirus recently discovered there
- One industry insider described the situation as a ‘shambles’, saying local officials had ‘no idea’ of the complications they were creating for airlines
Passenger and cargo airlines are weighing the potential knock-on impacts for flight operations as they scramble to comply with the new rules, the Post understands, with the restrictions having the potential to halt all non-stop passenger flights to and from Britain, though freight carriers may face a shorter-term impact.
The tighter requirements match the emergency measures announced on Monday by the Hong Kong government, which banned passenger flights from Britain, along with any travellers from other countries who had spent at least two hours there in the past 14 days.
As of Monday evening, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic had planned to keep offering a passenger service as usual from Hong Kong to Britain, but to switch to cargo-only flights running in the other direction.
However, the new isolation requirement for both foreign and local pilots and cabin crew flying into the city – which took effect on Tuesday at 9am – was likely to further alter flight plans.
A British pilot who regularly operates cargo-only flights to Hong Kong said the rules appeared to be “a little over the top”.
But a senior manager for an overseas carrier, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called the entire situation a “shambles”, saying local officials had “no idea” how complicated it was for foreign airlines in particular to reorganise their operations under such restrictive rules.
Coronavirus: Hong Kong bans passenger flights from Britain in bid to keep out mutated strain
Previously, airline staff were isolated in a Hong Kong hotel for 24 hours until the next day’s return flight, but this practice is no longer possible under the new rules.
In the past, some airlines had sent two full sets of aircrew members aboard their flights – one for the inbound journey, and the other for the outbound one – so as to avoid their having to enter Hong Kong. However, the practice was seen as undesirable and costly.
Similarly, airlines such as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had added stopovers elsewhere in the region to swap crews before continuing their journey.
Hong Kong’s Department of Health and the airlines operating the route to Britain have been contacted for comment.
By the end of the day on Monday, at least 42 countries and territories had moved to ban flights from Britain over the new coronavirus variant.
To keep the key London-New York air route open, British Airways, Virgin and Delta Air Lines implemented Covid-19 testing on departure to reduce the risk of the mutant strain of Covid-19 tearing across the US.
In announcing its own new restrictions, Hong Kong said it would require recent arrivals from Britain who were already quarantining in the city to undergo an extra week of isolation, on top of the usual 14 days. It also said it would amend its rules to require British arrivals in the future to quarantine for 21 days in dedicated hotels.
Recent arrivals from Britain can now only leave isolation after receiving a third negative virus test, to be conducted on their 19th or 20th day in the city.
Foreign aircrew not operating flights to and from Britain are excluded from local quarantine-on-arrival rules, and are tested both preflight, and upon arrival.
