Cathay to cut worldwide capacity by 30% [Now 96%]

[kamchatsky]

Finally some good news on CX and maybe AFFers. But it is still high risk imo:

Hong Kong lifts flight ban on Australia, eases strict COVID measures

The moves could quieten some criticism from residents who have become increasingly frustrated with the city’s stringent measures, some of which have been in place for over two years.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Melburnian1]

For a long time it seemed that HK was an agent for change lifting the standards in China. Now it seems that HK is being brought down to the standards of the mainland and losing that special attraction that CX depended on.

While I enjoyed visiting HKG a few times and found mainland China OK, both are off my visiting list. Nor do I favour CX (or the HKG airport) for any flights/connections.

CX management must be in a never ending nightmare.

 

[jase05]

While I enjoyed visiting HKG a few times and found mainland China OK, both are off my visiting list. Nor do I favour CX (or the HKG airport) for any flights/connections.

CX management must be in a never ending nightmare.

I’m probably the other way and it’s my preferred city for transits and one of my favourite airlines which is why I’m deeply saddened at what’s happening with both HKG and CX. I’m going to miss both incredibly

 

[glasszon]

Finally some good news on CX and maybe AFFers. But it is still high risk imo:

Hong Kong lifts flight ban on Australia, eases strict COVID measures

The moves could quieten some criticism from residents who have become increasingly frustrated with the city’s stringent measures, some of which have been in place for over two years.

www.smh.com.au

There are still major problems. Unless Hong Kong drops flight bans for having too many positive cases on a plane and dramatically expands quarantine hotel capacity, it will still be a major challenge for Hong Kong residents to enter Hong Kong, even without the country ban.

 

[tomlee1986]

My own opinion on this strategy of "covid 0" or "dynamic 0" is that they would not work on omicron - never worked in other countries even in Australia, why would it work in hk when 1 of the vaccines Sinovac is proven to NOT work against omicron - i can say many hkers did took Sinovac, and a major local paper (Mingpao) wrote on Sunday - page 1 headline btw... saying those who died AND vaccinated, the numbers who died from covid and took Sinovac is much higher than those who took BNT (known as Pfizer here in Australia)

Sorry the link is in chinese as it is a hk newspaper

已打針染疫死者 87%打科興 劉宇隆：長者多打科興 何栢良強烈建議打復必泰 - 20220320 - 要聞

【明報專訊】本港第五波新型冠狀病毒疫情持續兩個多月，至昨日累計5437宗死亡，本報取得醫管局就當中5167宗個案的分析，顯示逾七成人沒打針，而曾打針的1486名死者中，1292人打科興，佔87%；184宗打復必泰，佔12%，有關數據未就較多長者打科興，以及長者死亡風險較高等作年齡因素調整。港大專家何栢良另引述醫學期刊表示，基於醫學實證，強烈建議所有長者選打復必泰。疫苗可預防疾病科學委員會主席劉宇隆認為，分析上述數據要考慮科興要打三針才算完成接種等，呼籲打科興者盡快打第三針。

news.mingpao.com

 

[Must...Fly!]

The fact that the CCP approved use of Paxlovid should tell you a lot about what is actually happening within China.

 

[tomlee1986]

The fact that the CCP approved use of Paxlovid should tell you a lot about what is actually happening within China.

the "reported" cases in china can NOT be trusted... if they say 90 cases, assume it is 9000 if not higher

 

[Brissy1]

The fact that the CCP approved use of Paxlovid should tell you a lot about what is actually happening within China.

Chinese vax should be better since the CCP lab had a head start

 

[Chicken]

Chinese vax should be better since the CCP lab had a head start

I am not sure if this post is serious or not.

From the post above by tomcut

Let me translate the Chinese newspaper article (that newspaper is still one of the few which I would say is not aligned to the government)

[ Ming Pao exclusive ] Hong Kong 5th wave COVID continuing for over 2 months, total death until yesterday 5437, Ming Pao obtained analysis from Hospital Authority of the 5167 cases, showing over 70% did not have any vaccine, and of those 1486 deaths which had vaccine, 1292 had Sinovac, or 87%; 184 had Pfizer, or 12%. Those figures had not been adjusted for factors that most older people having had Sinovac, and older people have a higher death rate. Clinical Associate Professor Hong Kong University Dr Ho Pak-Leung quoting medical journals, from clinical confirmations, strongly advise seniors to have Pfizer. Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases of Centre for Health Protection Chair Professor LAU Yu-lung things, figures above need to taken into consideration that 3 doses is considered the foundation requirement for Sinovac, calling those who had Sinovac to have their 3rd dose.

Analysis 5167 deaths, 70% not vaccinated
Does not reflect differences in anti-mortality efficacy
Centre for Health Protection announced, death rate of 5th wave approx 0.5%, for having 2 doses 0.09%, not having 2 doses 0.34%; 60 years of age or above and having had 2 doses 0.4%, not having had 2 doses death rate 4%.

Ming Pao obtained multiple sources of info from Hospital Authorty on death analysis, not having vaccinated or not completely vaccinated make up 91.5% of deaths, of those 3681 not vaccinated; those 1486 who had vaccine, 1049 were not completely protected, including only had 1 dose or had 2nd dose over 180 days (see graph).

Of the remaining balance of deaths, 368 had Sinovac, 64 had Pfizer, and of these who had 3 doses 18 had Sinovac, 14 had Pfizer, 5 had mixed manufacturers. Above analysis does not include ratio of people who had been infected and had 2 doses, and also not taking consideration of age blackets of having had 2 doses etc.

Dr Ho Pak-Leung had previously said on Facebook quoting studies on Lancet Respiratory Medicine, US showing real world data, 70 to 80 years of age or above having 2 doses of Pfizer, in the first 150 days, prevetion efficacy is higher; study from Brazil showing 70 years of age or above having Sinovac, efficacy on serious illness and death is lower. Dr Ho Pak-Leung responsed to our publication, from the above had proven, strongly advise seniors, regardless having first second third dose, must choose Pfizer, if already had first or second dose, then second or third must change to Pfizer, saying vaccine had been proven to be safe, and efficacy is higher than having 3 doses of Sinovac.

 

[tomlee1986]

t

I am not sure if this post is serious or not.

From the post above by tomcut

Let me translate the Chinese newspaper article (that newspaper is still one of the few which I would say is not aligned to the government)

[ Ming Pao exclusive ] Hong Kong 5th wave COVID continuing for over 2 months, total death until yesterday 5437, Ming Pao obtained analysis from Hospital Authority of the 5167 cases, showing over 70% did not have any vaccine, and of those 1486 deaths which had vaccine, 1292 had Sinovac, or 87%; 184 had Pfizer, or 12%. Those figures had not been adjusted for factors that most older people having had Sinovac, and older people have a higher death rate. Clinical Associate Professor Hong Kong University Dr Ho Pak-Leung quoting medical journals, from clinical confirmations, strongly advise seniors to have Pfizer. Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases of Centre for Health Protection Chair Professor LAU Yu-lung things, figures above need to taken into consideration that 3 doses is considered the foundation requirement for Sinovac, calling those who had Sinovac to have their 3rd dose.

Analysis 5167 deaths, 70% not vaccinated
Does not reflect differences in anti-mortality efficacy
Centre for Health Protection announced, death rate of 5th wave approx 0.5%, for having 2 doses 0.09%, not having 2 doses 0.34%; 60 years of age or above and having had 2 doses 0.4%, not having had 2 doses death rate 4%.

Ming Pao obtained multiple sources of info from Hospital Authorty on death analysis, not having vaccinated or not completely vaccinated make up 91.5% of deaths, of those 3681 not vaccinated; those 1486 who had vaccine, 1049 were not completely protected, including only had 1 dose or had 2nd dose over 180 days (see graph).

Of the remaining balance of deaths, 368 had Sinovac, 64 had Pfizer, and of these who had 3 doses 18 had Sinovac, 14 had Pfizer, 5 had mixed manufacturers. Above analysis does not include ratio of people who had been infected and had 2 doses, and also not taking consideration of age blackets of having had 2 doses etc.

Dr Ho Pak-Leung had previously said on Facebook quoting studies on Lancet Respiratory Medicine, US showing real world data, 70 to 80 years of age or above having 2 doses of Pfizer, in the first 150 days, prevetion efficacy is higher; study from Brazil showing 70 years of age or above having Sinovac, efficacy on serious illness and death is lower. Dr Ho Pak-Leung responsed to our publication, from the above had proven, strongly advise seniors, regardless having first second third dose, must choose Pfizer, if already had first or second dose, then second or third must change to Pfizer, saying vaccine had been proven to be safe, and efficacy is higher than having 3 doses of Sinovac.

Thanks for the translate to english... it is not easy to translate such an article even with google! the reason i shared it is to show to the public what the locals are saying... Many Thanks!

 

[prozac]

News on TV last week of China sending medical teams to HK to assist.

 

[focusedbear]

Lifting of flight ban is next to useless when Cathay is running 2 flights to HK a month, courtesy of other rules. See here: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en...where-we-fly-now/latest-where-we-fly-now.html

Not sure what other airlines are doing.

 

[tomlee1986]

Lifting of flight ban is next to useless when Cathay is running 2 flights to HK a month, courtesy of other rules. See here: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en...where-we-fly-now/latest-where-we-fly-now.html

Not sure what other airlines are doing.

According to CX - this is to "prevent" another cut to services by bringing too many "covid" to hkg! what BS to that statement by CX! hkers know what the truth is - to prevent hkers from leaving under BNO visa and other lifeboats, submit to Chinazi rule, and become chives for xitler!

 

[Chicken]

According to CX - this is to "prevent" another cut to services by bringing too many "covid" to hkg! what BS to that statement by CX! hkers know what the truth is - to prevent hkers from leaving under BNO visa and other lifeboats, submit to Chinazi rule, and become chives for xitler!

I think CX's way of doing this is the best method of managing this.

If you look at the Facebook groups on flying into Hong Kong, you see all these people having their journeys cancelled because of this 14 day flight ban by Hong Kong, and having to find / change accomodations. It's very messy.

CX operating this way actually gives certainty to themselves, and the travellers.

Imagine if you were to fly to Hong Kong now. Would you fly Thai or Singapore and risk having your flight cancelled and being stuck in Bangkok or Singapore for god knows how long? Or would you rather book with Cathay Pacific and you know what you will be flying on the day you have booked for? I know I would rather pay a premium and book CX than risk being stuck in Bangkok or Singapore.

And as much as the problem with this policiy implemented by the Hong Kong government, don't forget that the Australian government also did this for 2 years to us Australians.

 

[tomlee1986]

I think CX's way of doing this is the best method of managing this.

If you look at the Facebook groups on flying into Hong Kong, you see all these people having their journeys cancelled because of this 14 day flight ban by Hong Kong, and having to find / change accomodations. It's very messy.

CX operating this way actually gives certainty to themselves, and the travellers.

Imagine if you were to fly to Hong Kong now. Would you fly Thai or Singapore and risk having your flight cancelled and being stuck in Bangkok or Singapore for god knows how long? Or would you rather book with Cathay Pacific and you know what you will be flying on the day you have booked for? I know I would rather pay a premium and book CX than risking being stuck in Bangkok or Singapore.

i agree it gives certainty to travellers entering to hkg, but i doubt other than those who lives in hkg, or have immediate family there, no one will want to visit this city even after the end of this pandemic

 

[henrus]

to prevent hkers from leaving under BNO visa and other lifeboats

I'm not 100% sure about this, if you look from HKG to SYD there are seats almost every day for ~$500 on scoot or $800 on SQ. If HK really wanted to stop people from leaving then you'd think they'd stop TR/SQ flights (and other foreign carriers as well).

 

[focusedbear]

Flight suspension has changed from 14 days to 7 days:

Starting from April 1, if a flight is found to have three or more passengers who test positive for Covid-19 upon arrival, the airline will be banned from operating that route into Hong Kong for seven days.

Coronavirus: Hong Kong to cut 14-day flight suspension rule to 7

Trigger mechanism for ban to be maintained at three positive cases on same flight.

www.scmp.com

--

Clearly businesses have spoken and scared the "powers that be"

 

[kamchatsky]

Flight suspension has changed from 14 days to 7 days:

Starting from April 1, if a flight is found to have three or more passengers who test positive for Covid-19 upon arrival, the airline will be banned from operating that route into Hong Kong for seven days.

Coronavirus: Hong Kong to cut 14-day flight suspension rule to 7

Trigger mechanism for ban to be maintained at three positive cases on same flight.

www.scmp.com

--

Clearly businesses have spoken and scared the "powers that be"

Well businesses would need to keep threatening the government for them to drop quarantine requirements completely....

 

[OATEK]

Does business have any major sway over the HK government these days? It seems to me that the HK government relies on revenue streams that require the economy to be at least ticking over.

 

[jakeseven7]

Does business have any major sway over the HK government these days? It seems to me that the HK government relies on revenue streams that require the economy to be at least ticking over.

Alot of business has left. Moved to other Asian capitals. Skeleton branch offices in HK now only, sadly.

Flight suspension has changed from 14 days to 7 days:

Starting from April 1, if a flight is found to have three or more passengers who test positive for Covid-19 upon arrival, the airline will be banned from operating that route into Hong Kong for seven days.

Coronavirus: Hong Kong to cut 14-day flight suspension rule to 7

Trigger mechanism for ban to be maintained at three positive cases on same flight.

www.scmp.com

--

Clearly businesses have spoken and scared the "powers that be"

Why are they even bothering clearly covid is ripping through China now even their fake news can’t suppress what is happening in Shanghai….