Cathay Pacific has welcomed the Hong Kong government's decision to reduce the Covid-19-related hotel quarantine period for all arrivals to three days, starting 12 August. Under the new arrangement, the seven-day hotel quarantine requirement will be changed to three days in a quarantine hotel plus four days of home or hotel medical surveillance, during which time travellers will be allowed outside but restricted from certain activities, Hong Kong's chief executive John Lee said during an 8 August press conference. Cathay says these adjustments will help facilitate travel into Hong Kong for passengers. The carrier adds that it is also urging the government to "urgently provide a clear roadmap showing the complete removal of all Covid-related restrictions for aircrew and passengers as soon as is feasible to protect Hong Kong's international aviation hub status".
Medical surveillance of four days can take place either at home or hotels, Lee said. While undergoing four days of medical surveillance, passengers will be allowed to go out. However, they will be restricted from entering places where there is active checking of vaccine passes, such as bars, pubs and restaurants. In addition, "they cannot enter elderly homes for people with disabilities, schools and specified medical premises," he said. "They cannot participate in any activities where masks are to be taken off, and if they attain daily negative results they can take public transportation to go to work, to enter shopping malls or public markets," Lee notes. Under the three days plus four days arrangement, passengers confirmed with Covid-19 will be given a red code and they will not be allowed to leave the place of isolation. Others will be given a yellow code "in order for the authorities to control their activities during the medical surveillance period", he adds. Hong Kong and China maintain some of the strictest Covid-19 restrictions in the world, as part of China's "dynamic zero-Covid" policy.

Alaska Airlines' ground staff and airport customer service agents have ratified a two-year contract extension, with "significant" increases in regular and longevity pay included. The new contract replaces one which was due to become amendable in September 2024. It runs until 27 September 2026. The contract covers about 5,300 Alaska Airlines airport customer service agents, stores, cargo, ground service and reservations agents, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Alaska Airlines says the contract passed overwhelmingly and includes increased pay with market reviews to ensure wage rates stay competitive, as well as increases in longevity pay. Job security has also been extended until 27 September 2028. "IAM negotiators strongly advocated for employees' needs, which included significant improvements to the wage structure," says Jenny Wetzel, vice-president of labour relations at Alaska Airlines. "I’m glad we were able to reach an agreement that improves our employees' quality of life and is good for our company's long-term success." IAM says the deal places its Alaska Airlines members at "the top of the airline industry's pay scale for the first time in the carrier's history". Base wage rates for all classifications will rise to between 8.9% and 17.4% on 10 August, with an additional 2.5% increase on 10 August 2023, says the union. Base wage rates will increase by a minimum of another 2.5% in August 2024 and 2025, subject to an industry review. "This newly-ratified IAM agreement at Alaska Airlines has raised the bar for the entire airline industry," says IAM general vice president Richard Johnsen. The pay deal comes at a time when airlines throughout the USA and elsewhere are grappling with staff shortages and strong demand for air travel following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Five entities controlled by Russian lessor GTLK have been sanctioned by the US government. The lessor's head office in Russia, along with four overseas entities, were added to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) specially designated nationals list, according to a 2 August announcement from the US Treasury. Dublin-based GTLK Europe and GTLK Europe Capital, Hong Kong-based GTLK Asia and Dubai-based GTLK Middle East Free Zone are the overseas entities affected. Individuals and companies on OFAC's SDN list, whose most recent edition published 2 August have their assets blocked and US persons are "generally prohibited from dealing with them", according to the Treasury's website. GTLK has been sanctioned by the European Union since April. The EU said at the time that GTLK was "financially supporting and benefitting" from the Russian government, which it said was responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine. Data shows that GTLK has an in-service and stored fleet of 270 aircraft. GTLK Europe owns nine aircraft, including five Boeing 737-800s, two Airbus A321s and two Bombardier CRJ200s, all on lease to Russian carriers. GTLK Asia – via entities called GTLK Asia A1 and GTLK Asia A2 – owns two 737-900s on lease to Lion Air. GTLK Middle East owns one A220-300 on lease to Air Manas, based in Kyrgyzstan, as well as one 777-200 on lease to Emirates. It also manages one A220-300 itself, which was scheduled to be leased into Air Manas but is now in storage.