Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) said yesterday business travellers from 15 countries would be eligible for reduced quarantine periods when travelling to the country after June 22, subject to certain conditions being met. Travellers from "low-risk" Australia, Bhutan, Brunei, Fiji, Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia, New Zealand, Palau, Thailand and Vietnam must complete a five-day quarantine period and those from "medium-risk" Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea would have to complete seven days in quarantine. Read More »
Air New Zealand said in a regulatory filing today it expected to post an underlying annual loss before other significant items and taxation of up to NZ$120 million (US$77 million) to June 30, 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic pushed the airline into the red. The company posted earnings before taxation of NZ$374 million for the 2018-2019 year.
Qantas’s website said today scheduled international flights, except between Australia and New Zealand, would remain suspended at least until the end of October, "due to government restrictions". Previously, the airline group had planned to ground all flights between Australia and New Zealand until the end of June, with other international routes suspended until July 31. The Australian border remains closed to inbound visitors and its citizens and permanent residents are not permitted to travel overseas.
Figures from the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) has reported there were 1,700 foreign visitor arrivals in the country in May, a 99.9% decline from 2.77 million in the same month a year earlier. The numbers also were below the 2,900 visitor arrivals in April. The JNTO said there were 5,500 Japanese overseas travellers in May, which was an increase of 3,915 in April and down 99.6% from 1.44 million 12 months ago.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) said some inbound international flights would land in Cebu rather than Manila because the capital city airport’s quarantine processing capacity is limited to 600 passengers a day. Its website said PAL flights scheduled to arrive tomorrow from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto would land at Mactan Cebu International Airport. Passengers will undergo coronavirus testing at Cebu and remain in the city under hotel quarantine while awaiting the results. When they are cleared, PAL will fly passengers to Manila free of charge.
Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd (AOT) said yesterday it expected passenger traffic at the six airports under its management to fall by 51.3%, to 69.04 million, in the 12 months to September 30, 2020, from 141.87 million in the prior corresponding period. It predicted passenger numbers would not return to levels recorded before the virus outbreak until 2023. The forecast covers Bangkok's Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Phuket.
