Most mainland Chinese flying overseas via Hong Kong as talks on adding flights between country and US drag, global airline body says
- China’s restoration of global connections also hampered by inability to regain outbound slots at foreign airports, says International Air Transport Association member
- While demand for more flights exists, ‘difficulties’ in bilateral talks making it hard to increase number, says North Asia vice-president Xie Xingquan
Most mainland Chinese travellers are heading overseas by transiting through Hong Kong as only a tiny fraction of the routes connecting the country with the US have been restored following the end of the pandemic, according to a global airline body.
China’s restoration of international connections was also being hampered by its inability to regain outbound slots at overseas airports and persistent labour challenges, a senior member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said ahead of its annual general meeting in Istanbul on Monday.
Vice-president for North Asia Xie Xingquan said flights between the mainland and Hong Kong had returned to 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and the city’s airport played a “very critical role” for the rest of the nation to reconnect with the world.
“Right now, most outbound mainland travellers choose Hong Kong to go overseas,” he said.
Airlines were operating 24 flights between China and the United States every week, accounting for just 6 per cent of 2019 levels, Xie noted. While the demand for more flights existed, “difficulties” in bilateral talks were making it a challenge to increase the number, he added.