Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has, from today, resumed allowing some transit passengers to use the airport.
“From 1 June 2020 until further notice, only transit/transfer passengers who have been checked through at the origin port and take transit/transfer flights operated by the same airline group are accepted at HKIA,” the airport says.
“Passengers should confirm in advance that they are able to enter the final destination. Please check with airlines for details.”
The ban on non-Hong Kong residents entering the city remains in place, and all non-Hong Kong residents arriving from overseas by aircraft will be denied entry to Hong Kong, the airport says.
As has been the case since 25 March, non-Hong Kong residents coming from mainland China, Macau, and Taiwan may enter, but are subjected to a 14-day compulsory quarantine. However, if they have travelled to other countries or regions within 14 days before coming to Hong Kong, they will be denied entry.
Local carrier Cathay Pacific says that its passengers will be able to transit through Hong Kong if their itinerary is contained in a single booking and the connection time to their next Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon-operated flight is within 8h.
“Subject to both requirements being met, from 1 June 2020, transit connections will be available between Hong Kong and the destinations that we operate flights to,” the airline says.
However, in this “first phase” of reopening, transiting to and from destinations in mainland China is not allowed.
In a 30 May report, local newspaper The South China Morning Post cited sources who said transport officials in Hong Kong had instructed Cathay and Hong Kong Airlines, in a meeting with company representatives last week, that they may not fly transit passengers to the mainland.
