Troubled carrier Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. received another blow as Hong Kong unveiled a policy that threatens to eliminate nearly all travel from the U.S.
All passengers in the U.S. must prove they tested negative for Covid-19 within three days of their flight to Hong Kong, the city’s government announced Wednesday. The policy adds the U.S. to a list of “high risk places” that includes India, Indonesia and South Africa.
Before the pandemic, Cathay had direct flights to multiple U.S. cities, including several a day from New York. That lineup has shrunk to just a few flights a week. The carrier closed its cabin crew bases in the U.S. in April because of the impact the virus had on global travel.
Cathay, which warned last week of a HK$9.9 billion ($1.3 billion) first-half loss, has turned to the government for support in a HK$39 billion rescue plan. Its shares have fallen 43% so far this year.