Final Up to date
With the rise within the Omicron variant, Hong Kong introduced final week that there might be a two week lengthy ban on all flights departing from the US, in addition to from SEVEN different nations world wide. This ban was set to start this previous Sunday January 9th and is anticipated to proceed at the very least till January 21st.
Cathay Pacific, the flag provider for Hong Kong, sometimes runs seven direct routes from the U.S. all year long – from cities similar to San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Newark, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston. These routes are sometimes frequented by pleasure seekers, in addition to being in style for enterprise vacationers as a result of metropolis’s status for financial and monetary dealings. With the current suspension of those flights, many passengers who had been hoping to transit and even locals returning residence to this cosmopolitan metropolis, might discover themselves caught – at the very least for the approaching weeks.
This two week ban on passenger flights isn’t just completely for the US, it additionally contains Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the UK. In saying these new measures, Hong Kong Chief Government Carrie Lam described the brand new restrictions as “decisive and complete” — greater than every other restrictions the town as seen over the previous two years. Lam famous that the choice to cancel these flights was in response to the “drastic” enhance in imported coronavirus circumstances. At the moment, the routes from these eight nations are among the most closely trafficked flights going out and in of the town of Hong Kong.
These measures come as new Omicron clusters have emerged over the previous week throughout the metropolis. This outbreak is linked to a number of Cathay Pacific crew members who broke isolation guidelines — eating in eating places and bars, earlier than testing optimistic.
As of now, there are solely a handful of group infections inside Hong Kong attributable to group unfold, however the extreme new restrictions are additionally a direct results of the low vaccination charges, significantly among the many aged — who’re solely 20% vaccinated.
Ban on Transit Passengers
Hong Kong additionally introduced yesterday that they’ll ban air passengers from ALL Group A nations — (these designated as “high-risk”) from TRANSITING by way of Hong Kong Worldwide Airport. An analogous passenger transit ban occurred in March 2020 early within the pandemic, however steadily resumed within the subsequent months (aside from mainland China).
This transit suspension will start on January 15th and run at the very least till February 14th, though the dates are topic to overview. There are 150 completely different nations which can be presently being categorized as “high-risk”, leaving many passengers scrambling to rebook their flights and alter their plans.
Such in style vacationer locations as Vietnam, Cambodia or Thailand that are presently open to vacationers, may even see a drop in vacationers attributable to these new transit restrictions. This comes simply as Thailand introduced extra additions to their Sandbox program this previous week, to locations Krabi, Phang Nga, and Koh Samui. Hong Kong Worldwide Airport serves 5 cities in Thailand, with dozens of flights a day to locations similar to Phuket, Bangkok, and Ko Sumai. Now, if a traveler is coming from considered one of these 150 “high-risk” nations, Hong Kong will not be an choice.
One other Possibility For Vacationers
Not all is misplaced for Asian journey. Singapore Changi Airport could also be the most suitable choice for journey all through the area. Singapore is presently the 18th busiest airport on this planet, flying to varied and unique locations. As of now, Singapore is permitting any passenger to transit by way of the favored airport, so long as they take a look at detrimental 48 hours earlier than their flight.
Learn Extra:
Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022
Thailand Reopens 3 More Destinations For International Travelers
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Disclaimer: Present journey guidelines and restrictions can change with out discover. The choice to journey is finally your duty. Contact your consulate and/or native authorities to verify your nationality’s entry and/or any modifications to journey necessities earlier than touring. Journey Off Path doesn’t endorse touring in opposition to authorities advisories
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