Govt asks Japan to drop airport restrictions with 60,000 travellers affected
Local | 29 Dec 2022 11:39 am
The government has asked Japan to withdraw a COVID-19 restriction that requires passenger flights from Hong Kong to only land at four designated Japanese airports and prohibit the increase in the number of flights from the city to Japan's airports, saying the decision will impact around 60,000 passengers.
"It is understood that around 250 outbound flights of Hong Kong airlines will be affected between December 30, 2022 and the end of January 2023, affecting around 60,000 passengers," the government said in a statement late on Wednesday.
Among the affected passengers, about 4,000 are tour group travellers from over 150 tour group.
Flights of Hong Kong airlines can still carry passengers back to Hong Kong from various airports in Japan, the government said, to "ensure the smooth return of Hong Kong people from Japan and to minimise the impact to Hong Kong travellers caused by the incident."
Japan, which is a top travel destination for Hongkongers, said it would limit flights from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China to Tokyo's two airports, plus Osaka and Nagoya from Friday. The decision comes during a peak travel season and ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday which begins Jan. 22.
Chief Exective John Lee Ka-chiu said the government had indicated to the Japanese government it was disappointed. "We think that Hong Kong people should be allowed to use not just these four airports," Lee said.
Hong Kong Airlines and Peach Aviation announced they would cancel some flight routes because of the rules.
