News for Asia

Air China files schedules for the US

4 January, 2023

Air China filed (04-Jan-2023) its latest US flight schedules to the US Department of Transportation for services commencing 08-Jan-2023: 

  • Beijing Capital-Los Angeles: 6-7 times weekly with Boeing 777-300ER;
  • Shenzhen-Los Angeles: Weekly from 10-Jan-2023 to 21-Mar-2023 with 777-300ER;
  • Beijing Capital-New York JFK: Daily from 17-Jan-2023;
  • Beijing Capital-San Francisco: Four times weekly from 01-Mar-2023;
  • Beijing Capital-Washington Dulles: Three times weekly from 02-Mar-2023. [more - original PR]

Cathay Pacific to increase China capacity

4 January, 2023

Cathay Pacific, via its official WeChat account, announced (04-Jan-2023) plans to increase China capacity as follows:

  • Hong Kong-Beijing: Increase from three to 10 times weekly from 08-Jan-2023, while Beijing-Hong Kong frequency will increase from seven to 10 times weekly;
  • Hong Kong-Shanghai: Increase from 1-2 times weekly to three times daily from 08-Jan-2023, while Shanghai-Hong Kong frequency will increase from twice to three times daily;
  • Hong Kong-Guangzhou: Resume five times weekly from 09-Jan-2023;
  • Hong Kong-Chengdu: Increase five to six times weekly from 14-Jan-2023;
  • Hong Kong-Xiamen: Increase from weekly to four times weekly from 14-Jan-2023.

Air China to resume Beijing-Geneva service in late Jan-2023

4 January, 2023

Air China plans to resume weekly Beijing Capital-Geneva-Shenyang-Beijing Capital service with A330-200 equipment from 26-Jan-2023, as per a 02-Jan-2023 GDS display and inventory. 

China Eastern Airlines to resume Shanghai-Vancouver service in late Jan-2023

4 January, 2023

China Eastern Airlines plans to resume weekly Shanghai Pudong-Vancouver service with A350-900 equipment from 23-Jan-2023, as per a 03-Jan-2023 GDS display and inventory. 

Taiwan to require arrivals from China, Hong Kong and Macau to present negative COVID-19 test

3 January, 2023

Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center stated (03-Jan-2023) in addition to mandatory saliva based PCR tests for passengers arriving on direct flights from China, passengers arriving in Taiwan on flights originating from China and transiting through Hong Kong or Macau must present a negative PCR test within 48 hours prior to boarding their flight at their place of departure or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours of boarding, effective 06-Jan-2023. [more - original PR]

Thai Airways signs marketing deal to attract MICE travellers

3 January, 2023

Thai Airways signed (26-Dec-2022) a marketing collaboration deal with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau to attract MICE travellers. The collaboration will target travellers from Asia and Europe. The parties expect to attract at least 500,000 travellers and generate THB33 billion (USD955.7 million) in revenue. [more - original PR]

US CDC announces COVID-19 testing requirements for inbound pax from China, Hong Kong and Macau

29 December, 2022

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced (28-Dec-2022) inbound passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong and Macau must present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery upon arrival, effective 05-Jan-2023. All passengers aged two or older must present a negative test result taken no more than 48 hours prior to departure, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. The requirement also applies to passengers travelling from China via third country transit and to passengers connecting through the US onward to further destinations. CDC also announced passengers transiting through the following airports to the US will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test if they have been in Peoples Republic of China in the last 10 days:

  • Seoul Incheon International Airport;
  • Toronto Pearson International Airport;
  • Vancouver International Airport.

CDC noted the three transit hubs cover the overwhelming majority of passengers with travel originating from China and its special administrative regions. [more - original PR]

Trip.com: China flight searches up 254% for outbound, 412% for inbound as restrictions relax

28 December, 2022

Trip.com Group reported (28-Dec-2022) the following booking and search highlights following the Chinese Government's decision to relax COVID-19 travel restrictions from 08-Jan-2023:

  • Outbound flight bookings from mainland China increased 254% on 27-Dec-2022, compared to 26-Dec-2022. The increase was led by bookings to Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand. Bookings also grew for flights to the UK, US and Australia. The top departure cities were Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hangzhou;
  • Searches for outbound visas on the Ctrip platform increased 300%. Searches for permits to enter Hong Kong increased fivefold;
  • Bookings for inbound travel to China increased 412% on 27-Dec-2022. The top source markets were Australia, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong;
  • Searches for travel during the Lunar New Year holiday period in Jan/Feb-2023 "have grown significantly". The top destinations are Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the US, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the UK. Searches for package tour products for Lunar New Year increased sixfold. [more - original PR]

Hong Kong Tourism Board to gradually step up global promotions

28 December, 2022

Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman Dr Pang Yiu-kai welcomed (28-Dec-2022) the Hong Kong SAR Government's announcement to lift all mandatory PCR test requirements for inbound travellers upon arrival in Hong Kong, as well as the lifting of the Vaccine Pass which allowed access to specified premises and other measures from 29-Dec-2022, adding the tourism board will "gradually step up its promotions worldwide". [more - original PR]

China to remove inbound quarantine from 08-Jan-2023, outbound travel to resume in 'orderly manner'

28 December, 2022

China's National Health Commission stated (26-Dec-2022) the management of COVID-19 will be downgraded from class A to class B from 08-Jan-2023. Inbound travellers will no longer be required to undergo quarantine, but will still be required to take nucleic acid tests 48 hours before departure. Outbound travel of Chinese citizens will also resume "in an orderly manner". The change in classification also means there will be no sealed control of COVID-19 cases and designation of high risk areas. [more - original PR - Chinese]

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