Thousands fleeing to mainland China as Hong Kong outbreak widens
>> Chinese in Hong Kong are going to great lengths to get back to the mainland as Covid-19 takes hold in the formerly virus-free financial hub, posing a challenge for officials fearful of contagion. Hundreds of people queued at a border checkpoint between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, with many waiting hours to get through the checks and processes. Most have family ties with the mainland or are Chinese nationals studying or working in Hong Kong.
HSBC blames Hong Kong’s travel curbs for recruiting challenges
>> HSBC said Hong Kong’s strict curbs on travel and social interaction are hurting the economy and may impact the ability to hire and keep staff in the Asian financial hub, in one of the strongest comments yet by a global lender on the city’s tough measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Travel reservations in China increase 47% in 2021 vs. 2019
>> Some 58.7% of people habitually made online reservations for tourist attractions in 2021, according to a report by China Tourism Academy and smart travel service platform Zhiyoubao on travel reservation trends in 2021. More reservations were made on workdays than weekends and public holidays (52.4% Vs 47.6%), according to Zhiyoubao.
Greater Bay Airlines approved to fly 104 routes
>> Greater Bay Airlines has been cleared to fly more than 100 passenger routes across the Asia-Pacific region, providing further competition for Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines. Hong Kong’s Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) has awarded the carrier a five-year permit to operate scheduled commercial flights with immediate effect.
China Southern Airlines to retire A380 fleet
>> China Southern Airlines has chosen to retire its five A380 aircraft before the end of the year. Last year, the airline said tha it would perform an audit of its Superjumbo operations, with the results determining the type's future in the fleet.
Didi to exit Russian, Kazakh ride-hailing markets next month
>> Chinese online ride-hailing services provider Didi Global said it will cease business in Russia and Kazakhstan from next month. Didi will exit the two markets on March 4, the Beijing-based company said on its Russian website today.
Tour routes highlight rich industrial heritage of city
>> Shanghai has stepped up efforts to promote in-depth tours with the concept of new haipai (Shanghai-style) "city archaeology" experiences raised recently. Niche tour routes and sites are being explored to enrich people's experiences under the staycation trend.
