Hong Kong scraps quarantine rules for international air crews

Hong Kong scrapped its closed-loop requirement for international airline crews late on Thursday, ending almost two years of pandemic-related restrictions on flight staff. Transport officials in the Asian financial hub told airline industry representatives of the change, which took effect immediately, people familiar with the matter said, declining to be identified because they were not authorised to speak publicly. The change means that foreign airline crews will not be confined to a quarantine hotel when they are on a stopover in Hong Kong. Previously, international airline crews were not allowed to leave their designated hotel or mingle with anyone outside of their own bubble before boarding their next flight out. Hong Kong did away with closed-loop quarantine rules for locally based airline crews in September. It also brings foreign aircrew rules in line with the situation for ordinary passengers entering and leaving Hong Kong.<br/>