After resuming some flights from the United States to China, several U.S. airlines have announced that they will be canceling their initial plans, particularly for all flights to and from the city-state of Hong Kong. The announcement came after Hong Kong authorities had said that the city would now be requiring all flight crew members to undergo Covid-19 testing upon each arrival.
American Airlines, which had scheduled the resumption of its flights from Texas to Hong Kong this week, stated that it will now be postponing flights to August 5. In a statement, the airline explained that decision was made due to the change in Hong Kong's entry requirements. It added that it will be adjusting its schedules accordingly depending on demand and other factors.
Meanwhile, United Airlines stated that it will temporarily be suspending its scheduled flights to Hong Kong this week while it tries to assess the situation. The airline explained that it will need to properly determine the impact of the new entry requirements to its operations.
Hong Kong authorities had announced earlier in the week that it would be requiring all flight crew members to submit themselves to deep throat saliva tests when they arrive at the Hong Kong International Airport. Unlike passengers, crew members will be exempt from the city's mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The cancellation of US flights to Hong Kong is another major setback in the global effort to reopen business and commerce. Restricting travel to one of Asia's key financial hubs will undoubtedly result in some transaction delays, which may negatively affect the global economic recovery.
While Hong Kong may be right in its decision to retain its tight entry requirements, the move will spell more trouble for global airlines, which are still struggling to remain afloat. United Airlines previously stated that additional delays in the restarting of its operations could result in additional furloughs and job cuts as it would need to impose drastically cut its expenses amid the continued travel demand slump.
For the most part, Hong Kong has been able to keep a tight lid on the further spread of the coronavirus. The city has been praised for its quick response to the pandemic and its citizens have so far been adhering to government-mandated measures, such as wearing masks and social distancing. As of Thursday, the city only has around 1,300 confirmed cases and just seven recorded deaths.
The city has steadily been trying to ease its tight restrictions given the dropping number of new cases. This week, officials announced that it will be allowing restaurants to reopen but only at around 60 percent capacity. Clubs and bars have also been allowed to reopen but establishments are required to follow strict social distancing guidelines.
