Masks to be mandatory at Hong Kong Airport

Masks are now mandatory at Hong Kong airport.

Masks are set to be mandatory at Hong Kong International Airport from this month.

Both Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, and Hong Kong Airport Authority (AA) will be making face coverings mandatory.

From Friday May 15, all Cathay passengers will be expected to wear a mask at all stages of their journey. This includes at check-in, in Cathay lounges, during boarding, in the aircraft cabin and during disembarkation.

The airline stated that this requirement will remain compulsory “until further notice”.

Meanwhile, the AA is to introduce mandatory mask-wearing for all departing passengers from Monday May 18. 

Passengers and all airport staff must wear masks throughout the restricted departure area until further notice. This includes staff and passengers using Automated People Movers, Apron Passenger Vehicles and SkyPier. Arrivals are “recommended” to wear face masks.

Temperature screening has already been introduced at the entrances of terminal buildings and arrivals levels. Passengers are being asked to keep a one-and-a-half metre distance between each other when they are queuing.

Cleaning regimes at the airport have also been stepped up with the deployment of autonomous cleaning robots and hourly disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces. The provision of alcohol hand sanitisers has been doubled throughout the airport and extended to all high traffic areas inside the terminal building. High touch surfaces have also been covered with an antimicrobial coating.

“The AA has been sparing no efforts in implementing different measures in Hong Kong International Airport to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for all airport users,” said Vivian Cheung, executive director of Airport Operations at the AA. “We are working hand-in-hand with our business partners to look at the entire passenger journey and explore possible enhancement measures, with a view to strengthening passenger confidence.”

In a statement earlier this month, Cathay Pacific announced that it was planning to increase its passenger flight frequency from three to five per cent in the last week of June.

Hong Kong Airport trials robots and disinfecting pods.

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