Hong Kong blocks Air India flights fourth time as passengers are Covid positive

Earlier this week, few passengers in the Air India flight were found positive for the Covid-19 infection after their arrival, which has led Hong Kong to ban Air India flights from Mumbai till November 10, according to senior government officer’s statement on Wednesday.

This is the fourth time that the Hong Kong government has placed a ban on Air India flights from India for bringing passengers who were tested Covid positive on arrival.The earlier three bans for the airlines were on the Delhi-Hong Kong route during August 18 to 31, September 20 to October 3, and October 17-30.

Only the passengers with a Covid-19 negative certificate with a test done from within 72 hours before the flight journey can travel from India to Hong Kong, as per the rules issued by the Hong Kong government in July.

Further on, all the international passengers are subjected to a Covid-19 test at the Hong Kong airport.

Alongside India, a pre-flight Covid-19 negative certificate is compulsory for travelers from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, France, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Russia, the Phillipines, the UK and the US, as per the regulations given by the Hong Kong government.

The senior government official stated, “A few passengers who travelled on Air India’s Mumbai-Hong Kong flight earlier this week tested positive for Covid-19 post arrival at Hong Kong… Subsequently, the Mumbai-Hong Kong flights have been barred from October 28 to November 10 by the Hong Kong government.”

However, since March 23, scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended. Though Indian Airlines are given the allowance to function international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission from May and also with the bilateral air bubble pact which India has with nearly 18 countries.