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China bans foreigners, restricts international flights
March 27th 2020
China has closed its borders to foreigners and imposed new restrictions on airlines operating international flights as it battles a second wave of coronavirus infections from those travelling into the country. Read More »
The Civil Aviation Administration of China [CAAC] said in a statement on its website it would restrict each Chinese airline to only one route to any specific country, with no more than one flight per week allowed.
Similarly, each foreign airline was only permitted to maintain one route to China, again with no more than one flight a week. A 75% maximum load factor is in place.
Airlines would be able to retain their operating permits and take-off and landing slots, the regulator said.
Operation of all-cargo flights with passenger aircraft is still permitted with the flights not counted against the total number of passenger flights operated.
The rules are due to come into effect on Sunday, March 29.
"In order to resolutely contain the increasing risks of imported COVID-19 cases, and in accordance with the requirements of the State Council for joint prevention and control of the epidemic, it is decided to further reduce the number of international passenger flights," the CAAC statement dated March 26 said.
The CAAC told FlightGlobal there would be about 130 weekly international flights to and from China as a result of the new rules. Passenger numbers were likely to drop from 25,000 a week to about 5,000 a week.
At the same time, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has banned non-citizens from entering the country.
"The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries," the statement said.
"China will stay in close touch with all sides and properly handle personnel exchanges with the rest of the world under the special circumstances.
"The above-mentioned measures will be calibrated in light of the evolving situation and announced accordingly.”
The statement said the entry of those with diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas were not affected by the ban.
Foreign nationals coming to China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergency humanitarian needs would be able to apply for a visa at Chinese embassies or consulates.
While parts of China were relaxing restrictions on movements that were in place when the COVID-19 outbreak took hold in Hubei Province, there were concerns the number of positive tests were on the rise because of people travelling to the country from overseas.
In other Chinese measures introduced recently, the government now required all international flights to Beijing to be diverted to one of 12 designated airports for authorities to conduct health checks on passengers on board. Passengers given the all clear would then be able to reboard the aircraft to continue their journeys to the Chinese capital.
International passengers arriving in Guangzhou and Shanghai also will be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival.
A presentation from International Air Transport Association (IATA), chief economist, Brian Pearce, showed passenger yields on Mainland domestic flights were positive in the first two weeks of March, which suggested yields were stabilising as the country recovered from the coronavirus outbreak that began in Hubei.
