In a major step toward full normalisation of air travel, Hong Kong on 24 February abolished the long-criticised requirement that locally based flight crew spend layovers in designated quarantine hotels. The Civil Aviation Department told airlines that the “closed-loop” system – a legacy of the city’s once-stringent pandemic rules – ended at midnight, allowing crew to move freely while overseas as long as they avoid high-risk social settings.(hksar.org)
Returning crew members now receive a ‘blue’ health code identical to that issued to ordinary residents; they must self-administer PCR tests for five days but are free to enter restaurants and other mask-off venues pending results. Crew on same-day turnarounds are no longer required to remain at the airport for test results, cutting duty times by up to three hours.
Cathay Pacific, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines immediately welcomed the change. Cathay’s Chief Operations & Service Delivery Officer Greg Hughes called it “a significant milestone that will let us add flights faster”, though he urged authorities to remove residual testing rules as soon as feasible.
![Hong Kong scraps hotel quarantine for airline crew, paving way for capacity ramp-up]()
For flight crew, corporate travel planners, or any passengers needing visa information for Hong Kong or onward destinations, VisaHQ offers fast, up-to-date guidance and streamlined application services. The platform’s dedicated Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) lets users check entry requirements in seconds and arrange e-visas or embassy submissions worldwide, lightening the administrative burden just as airlines ramp capacity back up.
Analysts at HSBC Aviation Research estimate the move will save carriers HK $120-150 million in annual accommodation costs and unlock roughly 8 per cent more pilot hours – enough to restore another 40-50 weekly long-haul frequencies before the summer schedule. For corporate travel managers, that translates into greater seat inventory, lower fares and better schedule reliability at Asia’s international hub.
Companies should update travel policies to reflect the relaxed rules; crew members transiting Hong Kong are still subject to their home-jurisdiction health measures, and testing compliance remains mandatory for locally based staff.
Returning crew members now receive a ‘blue’ health code identical to that issued to ordinary residents; they must self-administer PCR tests for five days but are free to enter restaurants and other mask-off venues pending results. Crew on same-day turnarounds are no longer required to remain at the airport for test results, cutting duty times by up to three hours.
Cathay Pacific, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines immediately welcomed the change. Cathay’s Chief Operations & Service Delivery Officer Greg Hughes called it “a significant milestone that will let us add flights faster”, though he urged authorities to remove residual testing rules as soon as feasible.
For flight crew, corporate travel planners, or any passengers needing visa information for Hong Kong or onward destinations, VisaHQ offers fast, up-to-date guidance and streamlined application services. The platform’s dedicated Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) lets users check entry requirements in seconds and arrange e-visas or embassy submissions worldwide, lightening the administrative burden just as airlines ramp capacity back up.
Analysts at HSBC Aviation Research estimate the move will save carriers HK $120-150 million in annual accommodation costs and unlock roughly 8 per cent more pilot hours – enough to restore another 40-50 weekly long-haul frequencies before the summer schedule. For corporate travel managers, that translates into greater seat inventory, lower fares and better schedule reliability at Asia’s international hub.
Companies should update travel policies to reflect the relaxed rules; crew members transiting Hong Kong are still subject to their home-jurisdiction health measures, and testing compliance remains mandatory for locally based staff.
