FedEx pilots ask company to suspend Hong Kong operations

Fedex pilots have asked the courier company to suspend flights to Hong Kong due to risks associated with government quarantine.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) claimed that the city's tightened coronavirus restrictions had led to pilots being forced into unsafe quarantine due to potential infection.

Three pilots who tested positive without symptoms were confined to a government-mandated hospital for 10 days, with up to five patients per room and one shared bathroom, according to ALPA.

A number of pilots who had not tested positive, but had been in close contact with someone who had, were placed in government camps.

Hong Kong has tightened restrictions on air and sea crew after several days of more than 100 new infections each day, which has been attributed to legal loopholes used by crew to avoid quarantine.

Now air crew have to provide proof of a coronavirus test taken up to 48 hours prior to boarding their flight.

Source: Financial Times

Header image: Ruslan Bardash