China Southern launches Dreamliner flight to Islamabad from Wuhan on 30 November 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

China Southern Airlines Boeing 787 wide-body passenger aircraft numbered B-2733 took off from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport at 9 am on 30 November 2020 to Pakistan Islamabad International Airport, marking the official opening of the direct route from Wuhan to Islamabad. This is the first international route opened by China Southern Airlines in Hubei after the epidemic prevention and control has become normal, and it is currently the only direct international passenger route to South Asia from Wuhan.

According to the staff of China Southern Airlines, the Wuhan-Islamabad route is scheduled once a week. The outbound flight number is CZ8139, and the flight time is about 6 hours and 10 minutes; the return flight number is CZ8140, and the flight time is about 5 hours and 15 minutes.

According to the current anti-epidemic policy, passengers who take regular direct commercial flights from Pakistan to China should complete 1 nucleic acid and 1 serum IgM at two different testing institutions designated by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan within 48 hours before boarding. Antibody sampling and testing, and after obtaining the negative certificate of 2 nucleic acid and 2 serum IgM antibody tests, apply to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan for a green health code with the “HS” or “HDC” logo. 14 Days of centralized isolation. Passengers entering Pakistan on direct flights from China do not need to provide nucleic acid test reports, but they need to download and install the Pass Track applet and fill in personal information as required.

It is understood that the first flight also carried 12 tons of cargo, the main sources of which were communications products, medical equipment, e-commerce products and traditional trade goods. In terms of cargo security, the Hubei Sales Department of China Southern Airlines Cargo Logistics strictly examines cargo types and packaging, formulates loading plans in advance, and strengthens risk monitoring in the collection and transportation links. At the same time, in combination with the epidemic prevention and control policy, understand the information of imported goods, formulate killing measures, standardize the operation process, strengthen the protection training of front-line personnel, strictly control the risk of epidemic transmission in all links, and actively prevent and control import risks.

According to the staff of the Hubei branch of China Southern Airlines, with the continuous advancement of resumption of work and production, China Southern Airlines uses "passenger-to-cargo" and chartered flights to provide more capacity for Hubei enterprises and personnel to communicate with foreign countries. Since the beginning of this year, as of November 30, China Southern Airlines opened three international long-distance “passenger-to-cargo” direct flights from Wuhan to New York, London, and San Francisco, and guaranteed 11 direct flights from Wuhan to Kansai, Narita, Nagoya Chubu and Incheon. Under the policy guidance and process support of bureaus, customs, border inspections, and epidemic prevention units, a complete epidemic prevention and safeguard process has been established.