Mainland China lifts ban on UK flights

By Linsey McNeill
12/08/2022
Home » Mainland China lifts ban on UK flights

Airlines have been given the go-ahead to resume direct flights between the UK and China.

Flights from the UK were banned by the Chinese authorities in late 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

However, the Department for Transport has reached an agreement with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for passenger flights to resume.

The agreement follows China’s decision to relax COVID restrictions for international passengers.

Under new rules, if a flight has 4% or more confirmed cases of COVID, the airline must suspend operation on that specific route for one flight. If the number reaches 8% or more, the two following flights must be suspended.

Entry to China is still severely restricted, with only select passengers eligible for visas. COVID testing takes place on arrival and visitors must then quarantine for 10 days in specified accommodation.

Virgin Atlantic has suspended its London Heathrow flights to Shanghai until March 2023. British Airways’ flights to China are also suspended.

Chinese airlines are expected to resume flights on the London route ahead of UK carriers.

Hong Kong has relaxed its entry rules for UK arrivals from today.

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