Given the vast global reach of the virus, many countries have already introduced specific measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease through international travel. Germany, France and Poland have published very similar Notams stating travellers on flights from mainland China must complete a copy of the ICAO health declaration and that operators must also keep all passenger data (names, contacts, where they sat on the plane) for at least 30 days.
According to aviation community the Ops Group, many other countries have taken more stringent steps, even denying entry to travellers from mainland China. In Hong Kong, all travellers arriving from mainland China will be put into home quarantine for 14 days – including Hong Kong residents and foreign citizens. Even if they are entering Hong Kong from other places, if they have visited the Mainland over the past 14 days, mandatory quarantine will still be applicable upon their arrival.
Hong Kong has also closed 10 out of 13 border crossings with mainland China. Hong Kong airport, the Shenzhen Bay joint checkpoint and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge remain open although there are ongoing protests by some medical staff to demand that the government close all routes to mainland China.
The US has implemented strict entry limits on any foreign nationals who have visited China in the past 14 days. The restriction applies to travel to parts of the US, including overseas territories (Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and Guam). In addition, US citizens returning from Hubei province, where the outbreak started, will be quarantined for 14 days.
In Singapore, foreign nationals who have travelled to mainland China within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through the country. National citizens who have been in Hubei Province in the last 14 days will be quarantined upon entry in Singapore. Short or multiple-term visas issued to mainland Chinese nationals have been suspended and invalidated.
Airlines in Asia have been heavily impacted with some of the major national carriers forced to implement suspensions to normal services. Air Asia and All Nippon has suspended a number of China routes until 29 February with Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon reducing their China flights by 90%. Japan Airlines has suspensions in place until 28 March and Korean Air until at least the end of March. Singapore Airlines and SilkAir has suspended several flights until 1 March. Qantas and Air New Zealand have suspended China routes until 29 March.
In Europe and the Middle East, Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Finnair, KLM and Iberia all have suspensions in place.
In North America, airlines impacted include American Airlines, United Airlines and Air Canada.
Travellers are advised to follow the advice of their government and to check future flight itineraries with their airline.
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