China on Sunday has shortened the length of suspensions for inbound airline flights that carry passengers infected with Covid-19, signalling that the nation may be ready to ease virus-control measures for international travellers.
Authorities changed the so-called circuit-breaker mechanism for airline bans, cutting to 1 week the period that incoming flights will be suspended if they carry 5 Covid-positive passengers, or 4 per cent of the total, said a statement posted on the website of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Flights that arrive with 8 per cent of passengers infected will be halted for 2 weeks.

Epidemic Prevention and Control
The blanket bans have been a source of headaches for both airlines and passengers, with many passengers finding themselves stranded and unable to complete their trip until two weeks later. For airlines, it has also led to aircraft and crew being stranded.
“The change, starting Sunday, 7 Aug 2022, is aimed at promoting personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries, and foreign exchange and cooperation, while ‘scientifically and accurately’ achieving epidemic prevention and control”