Emirates will suspend transit services through Hong Kong International Airport from July 2 to 15, according to a report from Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Ten transit passengers who flew with the airline and were left stranded in Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for five days will be sent back to Dubai after completing the quarantine period, added the SCMP report.

An eleventh passenger who also flew to Hong Kong agreed to go back to Dubai before the rest were quarantined last week, according to the report.  

The 11 passengers failed to transit through Hong Kong to mainland China with a connecting flight, SCMP reported.

Transit services to mainland China are currently suspended.

The news comes after Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) introduced stricter penalties yesterday for airlines flying in passengers who are not allowed to enter their destination, saying that it could suspend transit services for carriers flying unauthorised passengers.

“The airline concerned has to bear all the relevant cost arising from the mishandling. The airline is also responsible for returning the passengers without valid boarding passes to the port of origin immediately,” reads a statement from AAHK. 

The airline said any passengers booked up to July 15 whose journey included a connecting flight, had been asked to contact the airline or travel agent to rebook, SCMP reported. 

All passengers flying with Emirates to Hong Kong will have to undergo “stringent” passport and boarding pass checks, added the SCMP report.

A spokesperson from Emirates said the following in an email sent to Business Traveller Asia-Pacific: “As per the latest service updates, from 2-15 July, passengers on EK380 flights will undergo stringent passport and boarding pass checks, and transit/transfer services in Hong Kong will be temporarily suspended. During this period, all passengers with bookings on EK380 from DXB to HKG and whose journey does not terminate in Hong Kong and includes a connection should contact Emirates or their travel agent to re-book. Emirates apologises for the inconvenience caused.”

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) resumed transit services on June 1 after they were suspended for over two months in an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Hong Kong to allow transit flights from June 1

emirates.com

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