Save Me a Seat! Beijing Government Articulates Daily Cap for Incoming International Passengers

For all those hopeful would-be international travelers, make sure to save yourself a seat! The Beijing municipal government has stated that they will cap international arrivals to 500 travelers per day. Given that the government lifted border restrictions for foreigners with valid visas from Sep 28, this figure communicates that the government wants to keep numbers manageable; but also means that returnees will face fierce competition for flights for some time to come. At the 168th press conference (wow, already?) on the prevention and control of the coronavirus pandemic in Beijing on Oct 12, government spokespeople introduced this measure as well as several other travel-related items. Here’s what you need to know:

By the numbers

Since some of the direct flight restrictions were eased on Sep 3, Beijing Capital Airport has gradually reinstated 46 direct international passenger flights with a total of 6,870 passengers, and two confirmed imported.

Daily restrictions

All flights are capped at 75 percent capacity, and the number of daily international passengers are limited to 500.

Quarantining

To clarify, “direct” doesn’t mean you don’t have to quarantine. Passengers are still required to submit to a 14-day quarantine and additional testing and medical declaration.  

Managing imported cases

Beijing has a game plan to respond to imported cases. Flights with more than three imported cases will be immediately diverted to another designated port of entry. Flights with five or more cases on board will be temporarily suspended and when resumed, rerouted to a designated alternative port of entry.

Reciprocity

Government officials reaffirmed that passengers on direct flights to Beijing should be citizens of countries that both have strict pandemic control policies for third-country personnel as well as operate flights that serve both Chinese and domestic passengers.  

READ: Oh, the Places We Go! Domestic Travel in the Time of COVID

Image: Daniel McCullough (via UNSPLASH)