No Wonder you Can't Find Flights to China...

As of September the 1st, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced that China will further implement strict managements on international passenger flights with high risk, where the maximum passenger load should not exceed 75% of its full capacity. 

This announcement was issued in an effort to contain imported COVID-19 cases as the pandemic outside of China continues to grow increasingly severe.   

Not to mention, as international flights have resumed the number of COVID-19 imported by air is also increasing, which leads to increased pressure in anti-prevention.

What is a high-risk flight?

The 3 types of high-risk flights are as follow:

Type 1, high-risk can be rated on the basis of 3 criteria, including the rate of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the place of departure, the passenger load and route length 9the risk evaluation of a flight is updated daily)

Type 2, A flight is high-risk if a total of 5 or more passengers on a flight test positive within 3 weeks

Type 3, The flight is still considered high risk after flights have resumed following fusing  command initiatives

How long are they high-risk for?

For Type 2 and 3, if no passengers test positive in 3 consecutive weeks, the limit on passenger load will be cancelled. Additionally, they can apply for more flights as an incentive which followed the fusing command incentives put in place since early June. Yes, that does mean that the fusing common incentive measures are still in place along with these stricter requirements on passenger loads. 

Remind me of the earlier incentives?

The previous fused command incentives act as a 『circuit breaker』:

Airlines are to suspend flights for a week if 5 people test positive up to 3 weeks after the flight.

Airlines are to suspend flights for 4 weeks if 10 or more people test positive.

As an incentive, airlines can apply for 2 international flights per week on a route if no one test positive for 3 consecutive weeks. 

The CAAC also requires airlines to step up temperature checks and health screenings for passengers. Additionally, reserve isolation areas for emergencies and continue to check health codes and nucleic acid testing certificates.Since the implementation of these previous measures the administration has suspended 31 flights and cancelled 52 inbound flights. Sources: Chinadaily, OneTubeDaily, The Waijiao, SolutionsConsulting

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