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China suspends Thai carriers over imported Covid-19 cases

Thursday, 16 July 20203 min read
China suspends Thai carriers over imported Covid-19 cases

China’s civil aviation authority has temporarily suspended inbound operations of two Thailand based airlines.

It grounded the China services of Thai Lion Air and Thai AirAsia X after 11 passengers were confirmed with Covid-19.

Six tested positive on Thai Lion Air’s flight from Bangkok to Guangzhou on July 7, and there were another five positive cases on Thai AirAsia X’s flight from Bangkok to Tianjin three days later.

The suspension takes effect on July 20 and lasts for one week.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China also temporarily banned Biman Bangladesh Airlines earlier this month.

It is part of new policy rolled out last month to all foreign airlines flying to China.

If five passengers test positive on flights the airline is banned for a week.

The ban is increased to a month if there are 10 or more Covid-19 cases on a flight.

by Ray Montgomery, Asia editor