China Suspends Southern Airlines Routes for 4 Weeks Amid Surge in COVID-19 Cases

China Eastern Airlines passenger plane / Photo by reporter = Not related to the article content. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Chinese aviation authorities have decided to suspend operations for four weeks on Southern Airlines routes where multiple COVID-19 cases have been confirmed.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 15th, Southern Airlines will be unable to operate the Guangzhou, China-Dhaka, Bangladesh route for four weeks starting from the 22nd, in accordance with new regulations introduced by Chinese aviation authorities. This decision follows the positive COVID-19 test results of 17 passengers who recently boarded the Guangzhou-Dhaka route of Southern Airlines.

This is the first penalty case implemented since Chinese aviation authorities announced on the 4th that they would introduce a reward and punishment system for international flight operations based on each airline's COVID-19 prevention status. Notably, this decision comes amid the uproar caused by the resurgence of COVID-19 in Beijing, the capital of China, indicating that Chinese authorities will not loosen their COVID-19 prevention management and supervision going forward.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced on the 4th through its website that it would adjust international flight operation policies. Accordingly, foreign airlines banned from operating Chinese routes have been allowed to fly to a desired Chinese city once a week starting from the 8th. Additionally, all airlines operating Chinese routes will have their flight frequency increased from once a week to twice a week if no passengers test positive for COVID-19 for three consecutive weeks. Conversely, if five or more passengers test positive, the airline’s Chinese route operations will be suspended for one week, and if ten or more passengers test positive, operations will be suspended for four weeks, thereby strengthening penalties.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.