The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) suspended SriLankan Airlines for four weeks after 25 passengers on a charter flight from Dubai to China tested positive for Covid-19. A media release from SriLankan Airlines stated that its cargo operation to China will not be affected by CAAC’s decision. “The tests were conducted 72 hours prior to passengers boarding the flight and all tested negative. These tests were conducted as a preventive measure for the passengers and crew although the PCR tests were not considered mandatory for China-bound flights from Dubai,” it stated.
“All 223 passengers had to undergo PCR tests before they boarded and tested negative. But, when they landed in China 23 passengers tested positive for Covid-19,” a media spokesperson for SriLankan Airlines, Deepal Perera said.
CAAC suspended SriLankan Airlines as part of its new policy that if over five Covid-19 positive patients are detected on a flight that airline will be suspended.
The CAAC suspended SriLankan Airlines for four weeks since 23 patients were detected on the August 7 charter flight.