Hong Kong Ends Covid Flight Bans That Caused Travel Chaos
- Controversial policy banned some 100 flight routes this year
- The pivot is John Lee’s first major change as Chief Executive
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Hong Kong’s new leader John Lee suspended a system that banned airlines from flying routes if they carried passengers infected with Covid, raising hopes he’ll ease onerous travel curbs that have damaged the city’s status as a financial hub.
Starting Thursday, the so-called circuit breaker mechanism will end until further notice, the government said in a statement. The city will pivot to a stronger testing regimen, which it says is more effective at catching imported cases than flight bans.