Two weeks, after five passengers on board a recent flight tested positive for the coronavirus. Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department has banned the carrier from operating flights between Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong for a period of two weeks, effective immediately.
The five passengers were on the Cathay Dragon flight from the Malaysian capital on 18 September. All of them were connecting passengers travelling from India via an Air India Express flight, the carrier adds. Consequently, the aircraft operating the affected flight has been sent for deep cleaning, says the carrier, which is in the process of contacting all passengers who may have been in close contact with the infected passengers. The ban is a blow for Cathay Dragon’s plans for service resumption. The carrier states it was due to operate thrice-weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur. Both Cathay Dragon and parent Cathay Pacific have been operating skeletal networks in recent months, as travel restrictions crimped demand. Apart from Cathay Dragon, Indian flag carrier Air India also faced censure from Hong Kong authorities, after it was reported to have carried six passengers on board a flight from Delhi who tested positive for the virus. It is the second ban in recent months that Air India has received from Hong Kong, after it was found to have carried 11 passengers who tested positive in August. India has the second-most number of coronavirus cases in the world — behind the United States — at 5.3 million and rising.

Source: Cirium

Israeli carrier El Al is aiming to start restoring flights this month, beginning with a gradual resumption of cargo services on its aircraft. It says the cargo flights will resume starting on 21 September El Al is intending to follow these flights with a restoration of passenger operations from 1 October. The scheduled services will cover a “limited number” of destinations in the USA and Europe. The carrier suspended its passenger operations in March and has since been immersed in an efficiency drive and effort to obtain vital funding. “It should be noted that the volume of flights planned at this stage is not material,” says the airline, which had originally expected its flights to remain grounded at least to the end of September. El Al adds that the total number of services will be determined by demand. “Flights will be operated in accordance with the guidelines of the health ministry,” it adds. El Al also points out that, at present, entry into Israel is only possible for passengers holding Israeli passports. Some 5,940 personnel of the company are on unpaid leave, which will be extended at least to 31 October. While El Al expects a gradual return of some workers to operate the planned services, the figure will initially be relatively small.

Source: Cirium

Vietnam will resume commercial passenger operations on six international routes this month, after suspending international flights from 23 March. These are to Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Guangzhou, China; Vientiane, Laos; Taipei, Taiwan; and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It appears to be for two-way travel, according to a diagram by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam in a 17 September statement. There will be no more than two flights per week for each destination. The flights are only open to Vietnamese nationals and to foreigners on official and business trips, as well as skilled workers, investors and international students, among others. Passengers will need to submit documentation to show that they have tested negative for Covid-19 prior to boarding. VietJet Air announced on 17 September that it plans to resume regular service to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, starting 29 September. Vietnam Airlines has also been planning several one-way flights to Japan and intends to seek approval for return flights. It is also working on resuming flights to South Korea, mainland China, Laos, and Cambodia.

Source: Cirium