LHR-HKG Special flights
 

So accordingly to CX, all 600 tickets for the 2 special flights CX2252 from LHR to HKG have been sold out within 2 hours.

But there are some complains that many can’t even access to the booking system and some are complaining that CX is charging high price.
£900 for one way Y seat. £3212 for one way business class.

https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/202...00822_001.html

The one who cry and sit there doing nothing and cry for handouts will always be there.
While others with a high drive and resilience found many legal avenues to fly back and are back in HK.

Not for a moment can I believe ther HKPRs stuck in UK visiting family or student does not have the resources to detour back to HK.

Honestly speaking I don't see why the government still bans the UK flights. The 21-day hotel quarantine scheme could be the most strict quarantine system in the world, and it is even stricter than the quarantine scheme in Mainland China. The risk brought by UK arrivals is not higher than other passengers. Besides, the UK variant has already been the mainstream variant in Europe, US and some Southeast Asia countries. It is not reasonable that only UK flights are banned.

Considering most of these people flying back to Hong Kong would’ve had return tickets… and many of them would be on CX. Then it’s a bit harsh if they have to buy new tickets to fly back home.

That’s right… The UK variant is what is predominant in Europe and the USA. Therefore the UK ban makes no sense whatsoever unless they ban people flying from the US and Europe too. It stinks of politics.

why is it harsh? they chose to travel in time of a mess. they have price to pay for risk they took. i got zero sympathy for stranded ppl. disclaimer: comes from me who have all financial resources to travel if i wanted, but chose not to

Maybe just realize, the UK government does make itself currently far from popular with the HK-China-oriented leaders (be it in itself right or wrong). So would you expect the HK leaders to be willing to do the people arriving from UK a favor ?

Oh, that's called politics ......

Stop whining, it's all unfair at your viewing level, though overall understandable. That's how the world works.

It’s harsh if they already have tickets on Cathay Pacific as part of their return tickets.

So you’re saying it’s fine that HK is banning U.K. flights due to politics and at the same time making it difficult for hk people to return?

It’s difficult to criticise people who have gone back to the U.K….. it may have been necessary

Actually it is not. If it is really about politics, the HKSARG will make 100% efforts to take all the stranded HK residents in UK as soon as possible. Probably they will hang a banner on the plane 走，咱們回家 "Let's go home".
https://www.hk01.com/%E6%94%BF%E6%83...9B%9E%E5%AE%B6

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0022300055.htm

That's the detailed/individual level. The UK/HK governments are dealing with an overall "who caves in first". Given Bojo's behavior around Brexit and the China oriented HK government, it's unlikely either of them is going to cave in soon.

A350 to LHR just leaving HK - 18.55 local -same aircraft that arrived from LHR yesterday

The HKSARG announced that the ban on UK flights will end in May. No need for any special flights.

There have been BA flights arriving from LHR to HK and vv every day for at least the past couple of weeks and Cathay 777 flights to UK every couple of days (possibly freight only). The only reason that CX is not flying a regular schedule is that there are not passengers and due to gov virus related temporary regulations Cathay were short of available pilots.
That changed yesterday which allowed Cathay to increase flights today and going forward.
All the trash political talk on this thread has little or no substance in fact.

BA LHR-HKG flights are cargo-only passenger flights.

All passenger flights from UK are still banned. BA/CX cannot fly pax from UK to HKG.
That should be lifted early May.
BA/VS can fly to HKG by having a second crew onboard and no one disembarking. BA uses the F section of the ac for that second crew. CX cannot do that, as the crew of any flight arriving in HKG with pax must quarantine if they disembark.

The new regulation for pilots only affects cargo pilots and flying to/from six low-risk countries. It will free some cargo pilots, but not pax pilots and not from UK.

Hi Brunos. Several of the points raised in your post I believe to be correct however the BA flights have been docking at the passenger terminal. This is not at all normal for the passinger aircraft flights carrying only freight. I am not an avid watcher of Flightradar 24 however the incoming BA flight time coincides with the time that I often stop for a coffee and I often watch the landing. Why would this be if no pax aboard ? The regulation change does also involve CX pax pilots as if vaccinated they can avoid much of the quarantine if incoming from any of the nominated low risk countries. These do not include UK or US at the moment. .

It is hard to believe that you live in Hong Kong and have not been aware of the UK ban.

Passengers flights from UK have been banned since December. They can only carry pax from HKG.
Any person who has spent over 2h in UK cannot enter Hong Kong, even if the fly from elsewhere.

BA31 from LHR arrives (without pax) at 1340 (often a bit early) and BA32 departs (with pax) at 1510. During the short turnaround time (scheduled as 1h30), the two crews stay onboard (they use the F section of the 777), any cargo is offloaded/onloaded and pax board.
Carrie Lam announced that the ban would be lifted early May:
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...randed-britain

Brunos, Apologies for the late reply to your above but I have been unable to post for the past few days.
Your post is not incorrect as such and your interpterion of the regulations is accurate however I say again that there are paxs on almost every CX and BA flight from LHR. The HK government routinely offers dispensations to those it believes are important to Hong Kong's future and wellbeing as I am sure in turn does the UK government. Many of these dispensations are granted to senior business people (director level and the like) and it is not unusual for several from one company to travel. Last evening at dinner I sat with one such individual who next week is oft to the UK for a board meeting. When he returns he will serve only 7 days home quarantine. I am unsure about quarantine at the UK end.
A lot of these dispensations are made, as an instance my next door neighbour has been routinely traveling back and forth to China every 2 or 3 weeks and serving only home quarantine on his return - he has business with the Shanghai government.

Thanks for your reply oldchinahand.
I know that there are many exemptions for travel to Mainland China, Macau and Taiwan.

They do also offer few special travel/quarantine exemptions for senior business people, government officials, health specialists from other countries.

But the case of flight bans from UK is quite different. I strongly doubt that there are many pax on "almost every BA flight from LHR". And I don't like to rely on hearsay evidence.
Exemptions for travel/quarantines are quite different from exemptions to a ban for passengers flights. It is just a guess, but frankly it is hard to envision that BA would cater service to a couple of passengers on some flights. It would have to institute dedicated boarding procedures and inflight service for just a couple of guests. Not worth the extra cabin crew planning given the number of pax and its uncertainty, even if it were legal from HK side.

I have demonstrably proven OCH's comments are utter bolloks in another thread.

CCP shill, or worse.

I confirmed on the BA Forum that all of BA's LHR-HKG flights are freight only.

Of course Brunos there are almost certainly already cabin crew and spare pilots on the BA aircraft thus not a lot of extra catering needed.

That information is incorrect where ever it was posted.

BA crew confirmed it, so I would rather trust them.

So explain !
In proper English would be much appreciated.
BTW. Bolloks is spelt 'Bullocks'.

Try "Bollocks"

lol.

Yawn... I just noticed OCH is being ignored as a poor commentator on PPRUNE too. Can't find a home anywhere it seems.

Any information about the resumption of UK-HKG flights?

Not announced yet but SCMP reported that UK-HK flights wll be resumed this week.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...gtype=homepage

Thank you for the link, much appreciated.

clubeurope

This isn't correct. The earliest the flights will resume is May 17th.

The Hong Kong Govt. via leader Carrie Lam, announced UK flights can now resume. Further details will be announced later today in a press release.

It is now up to the airlines to get prepared. While passenger flights can resume shortly, there is a matter of resolving what happens to UK-inbound aircrew who cannot enter Hong Kong without undertaking 21 day quarantine for now - the rule needs to be changed for this to make flights more straightforward rather than double crewing + extending duty.

That's not correct either.
First the official announcement has to be made. I understand that airlines have already been notified.
Then the airlines have to schedule their crew given the very strict quarantine requirements.
BA has to get an additional FA crew who will stay onboard during the short turnaround in HKG. The F cabin is dedicated as rest area for the two crews.
CX has to find crews who will engage in their complicated rotation.
I don't know for VS.

But CX is already selling tickets from 14 May, with 5 weekly flights.

last week CX was selling flights for this week from LHR. But guess they were removed.

Can’t find any references in reports of Carrie’s address today or the press release yet.

I just found this online (it's in Chinese)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...1050400797.htm

It stated that HK residents in UK and Ireland can enter Hong Kong from 7 May onwards if things are not drastically worsened. It also shows some more information on the risk group classifications.

It's official. Flights now operating from 7 May for HK residents or those with specific entry visas approved by the HKG duty immigration officer at time of check in.