HONG KONG has lifted its hotel quarantine rule, allowing extra bellyhold cargo capacity and a boost to the city’s economy, reports London’s Loadstar.
Previously, travellers entering Hong Kong had to be quarantined at a hotel for three days, followed by four days of movement restrictions.
It has been replaced by daily testing for the first week after entering the city.
The move comes as Singapore has overtaken Hong Kong as Asia’s top financial hub.
Cathay Pacific declared the new measures would allow for the ‘strengthening of network connectivity to, from and through the Hong Kong aviation hub,’
Hong Kong Shippers’ Council executive director Sunny Ho declared the relaxed Covid rules would have a positive impact on air cargo, but warned that most airlines would need six months’ lead time for preparing additional routes.
‘There could be sharp increase in flights from Hong Kong, but only because of the current low base. Substantial traffic increase would come in Q1 23 – if demand supports the growth,’ said Mr Ho.
‘European and Asian economies are troubled by the great depreciation of their currencies, hyper-inflation, social discontent, labor shortages, strikes and energy shortages, so air traffic growth will be hampered,’ he said.
August cargo volumes at Hong Kong International Airport were down 21 per cent year on year, to 338,000 tonnes.
Mr Ho also declared Hong Kong was still suffering from the mainland border-crossing disruption, with trucking restrictions likely to continue ‘unless Hong Kong can achieve zero-Covid’.
