Chinese carriers have begun suspending flights to and from Beijing, following a rise in a number of new coronavirus cases in the Chinese capital. Among carriers suspending flights in and out of the city is Beijing-based Air China, which in a 17 June notice indicated “large-scale” cancellations. As of 10:00 on 17 June, the Star Alliance carrier cancelled 295 flights in and out of its Beijing Capital airport hub. All affected flights are to points in its domestic network, including cities such as Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shanghai and Chongqing. Compatriot China Southern Airlines, which also has a sizeable presence in Beijing, has yet to announce any cancellations. However, a check on flight schedules at Beijing Daxing airport, where the carrier is in the process of shifting operations to, shows that the airline is cutting at least four flights on 17 June in its domestic network, to cities like Kunming and Chengdu. At Beijing Capital, China Southern has cancelled a larger number of domestic flights, including to Shanghai Hongqiao, Changsha, as well as its Guangzhou hub. Flight schedules on Beijing Capital’s website also indicate a significant number of flight cancellations by other Chinese carriers, such as China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, as well as Sichuan Airlines. Some foreign carriers, which have been allowed by the Chinese authorities to operate limited flights into the country, have also suspended their Beijing flights. Japanese carriers Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled all their flights from Tokyo to China on 17 June. Chinese state media People’s Daily indicates that as of 17 June morning, more than 1,200 flights have been cancelled at Beijing’s two airports, with the number expected to grow as the capital is restricting outbound travel. Beijing reported 31 new coronavirus cases on 17 June, bringing the total tally of new cases to more than 100 over the past five days. The new surge in cases is believed to have originated from a major wholesale food market in the city. Beijing raised its disease alert level to Level 3 on 16 June, with communities in high-risk districts placed on lockdown to curb the spread of the disease. The flight cancellations come amid recovery in domestic travel demand in recent months. China’s three largest carriers - Air China, China Southern and China Eastern - have all reported consecutive month-on-month increases in domestic passengers carried.

Source: Cirium

Lithuania's government intends to establish a new national airline later this year or early in 2021. The ministry of transport and communications says it will "initiate establishment of a virtual Lithuanian national airline" to restore air links from the Baltic state "in a post-Covid-19 situation", without reliance on external operators. A new national airline will enable the government to "adapt more flexibly to the new demands of the Lithuanian air connectivity… thus minimising dependence on the constantly changing strategies of the foreign air carriers", the ministry argues. It says the project will "most certainly" involve private-sector partnership, but "to which extent remains to be seen". Noting a "highly fluid situation with the pandemic" and the "complexity" of establishing an airline, the ministry adds: "We are still in the early stage of defining which possible solution could be optimal for Lithuania… All options are still on the table." Many airlines have scaled down expansion plans to save costs and because they foresee reduced travel demand over coming years as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Lithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines suspended operations in 2018. The Vilnius-based airline – which had German and Polish subsidiaries that ceased flights prior to their parent – operated a fleet of eight Airbus A320s before Lithuania's civil aviation authority revoked its licence in November 2018. In 2015, Air Lituanica halted flights less than two years after launching. That airline had operated across Europe with a fleet of Embraer E-Jets. It was the latest attempt to create a stable carrier in the Baltic state following the failure of Lithuanian Airlines in 2009. Latvian carrier Air Baltic operates from Lithuania and Estonia as well as its home country, where it has its main hub at Riga.

Source: Cirium

Singapore is easing some border control measures but travellers will now bear the cost of mandatory Covid-19 testing and quarantine measures. "Going forward, as we reopen our border to more international travel, those who enter Singapore would have to bear the costs of fulfilling [Covid-19-related] requirements, as part of the cost of travel in a Covid-19 world," the health ministry said on 15 June. It indicates that a Covid-19 test for an individual subject to 14-day quarantine measures costs up to S$200 ($144) and staying at a dedicated facility during that time costs S$2,000. Singapore imposed a 14-day self-quarantine on all incoming travellers from 21 March, known as a "stay-home notice". From 17 June, 23:59, incoming travellers will have to undergo an additional test, scheduled a few days before the end of the 14-day period, at a designated facility. They are to arrange their own transportation and avoid public transport. All inbound and outbound travellers are now required to pay for their Covid-19 tests, where applicable. Travellers who are not citizens or permanent residents will have to pay for their stay at dedicated "stay-home notice" facilities. The Singapore government has thus far borne the cost of stay at such facilities for all inbound travellers, as well as majority of Covid-19 tests, says the health ministry. Concurrently, the parameters for the 14-day quarantine will be eased for select incoming travellers. Those who remained in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, mainland China, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam 14 days prior to entering Singapore are not required to serve their "stay-home notices" at dedicated facilities. Holders of a long-term visit pass will still require prior approval to enter Singapore, while short-term visitors are still not allowed, except those with special prior approval or entering under "green lane" or "fast lane" arrangements. Singapore currently has one such agreement with China, and the ministry says this will eventually cover more countries and regions.
Singapore is preparing for a second round of easing social-distancing measures and will reallow some economic activities after 18 June, 23:59. In line with that, the ministry says it has been reviewing border control measures and will implement progressive changes as the country reopens to international travel. It says: "These include ongoing discussions with various countries/regions on developing bilateral arrangements for safe travel, and allowing more Long-Term [Visit] Pass holders still outside Singapore to return."

Source: Cirium