Covid-19 coronavirus - effect on Cathay Pacific
#1246
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: EWR-SEA-IAD
Programs: UA 1P MM, AS MVP G*, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 977
Maybe, they'll have a hard time doing in the US right now with turn around times. Unless they arrange tests in-house. Then again, wonder if they'll need the govt certification of the laboratory like they're making passengers provide.
#1247
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,099
Not a problem for Cathay, since their crews are based in Hong Kong. As for United, I would guess a mega-company like that can make its own on-site testing arrangements. For all I know, perhaps they already are testing crews. Not sure about the cargo carriers. In any event, flights from the US are only a small proportion of traffic at the airport.
Nonetheless, I do think that under present conditions the Hong Kong Government would be perfectly happy to see flights at HKIA dwindle away without actually having to order the airport closed. The growing requirement of passenger testing with that unobtainable government certificate certainly pushes in that direction. If nothing else, it would open up more testing capacity for local patients.
Nonetheless, I do think that under present conditions the Hong Kong Government would be perfectly happy to see flights at HKIA dwindle away without actually having to order the airport closed. The growing requirement of passenger testing with that unobtainable government certificate certainly pushes in that direction. If nothing else, it would open up more testing capacity for local patients.
#1248
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,570
Yet Hongkong Post is still suspending regular airmail service to the U.S., and many other destinations. (But the expensive Speedpost service is available.)
I suppose we'll know air freight rates are really down when Amazon U.S. starts offering free shipping to Hong Kong again.
I suppose we'll know air freight rates are really down when Amazon U.S. starts offering free shipping to Hong Kong again.
#1249
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,570
Reports coming out of HK that new reqs starting the 29th will require air crew to have a covid test within 48 hours of the flight dep from origin OR submit to a test in HK and forced to wait for result or spend 48 hours in a hotel.
Inbound passengers are waiting on avg 12 hours now for initial covid test upon arrival.
Inbound passengers are waiting on avg 12 hours now for initial covid test upon arrival.
This has led to many longhaul airlines cancelling their flights to HK (AF, EK, AA, UA, AC, ..) or introducing a stopover like KL in BKK. The risk being that the crew would not be able to take their next rotation out of HK if one member tests positive on arrival.
It would be easy for an airline to arrange to a test of the schedule crew one day before departure from the home base, and possibly substitue if one tests positive.
#1251
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,570
A small letter airmail to US or Europe costs HKD4.9.
The same in France to HK costs EUR1.4 or HKD12.6. From USA to HK costs USD1.15 or HKD9.
The difference for parcels is also 2 to 4 times more expensive from abroad.
This is why the US and some other countries wanted to refuse delivery of HK post items because they were getting a raw deal
#1254
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,062
Looks like KA have just dropped Dhaka, I had a flight in late September, returning early October cancelled on me and there are no alternative flights - not really too worried as I presumed it wouldn't occur, but cancelling 2 months in advance is much earlier than most of my other flights (cancelled 2-3 weeks in advance)
#1257
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
Looks like KA have just dropped Dhaka, I had a flight in late September, returning early October cancelled on me and there are no alternative flights - not really too worried as I presumed it wouldn't occur, but cancelling 2 months in advance is much earlier than most of my other flights (cancelled 2-3 weeks in advance)
#1258
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
I wondered whether we need to maintain passenger air links to other destinations in the April-May list https://www.cathaypacificcargo.com/A...S/Default.aspx.
I think the demand will be less. You might still have a Japanese Citizen resident in Hong Kong who would like to return to Japan, but I think these numbers will be less and less. CX can open 1fpw or even 1 flight per month.
I think the demand will be less. You might still have a Japanese Citizen resident in Hong Kong who would like to return to Japan, but I think these numbers will be less and less. CX can open 1fpw or even 1 flight per month.
Not every flight on the list is really accepting passenger bookings https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...ing-covid.html
#1259
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 565
Agreed, HK postal rates have increased far ahead of inflation in recent years, The colonial era post office was a great legacy, very efficient and well run, but it is starting to lose its edge.
#1260
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
Is Bloomberg picturing Regional J on long-haul seats https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...e-like-economy