China suspends two flights over COVID-19 cases

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's civil aviation regulator has announced the suspension of a Xiamen Airlines flight and a China Southern Airlines flight after passengers tested positive for COVID-19.

A total of eight passengers tested positive on Xiamen Airlines' Manila-Xiamen flight MF820 on Aug. 13, and the flight will be suspended for two weeks starting Aug. 30, said the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Thursday.

China Southern Airlines' Yangon-Guangzhou flight CZ3056 will also be suspended for two weeks starting Aug. 30 after nine passengers tested positive on the Aug. 14 flight.

The CAAC said that neither airline is allowed to transfer the original quota of these flights to other routes.

According to the CAAC policy, airlines can choose either to have two weeks of flight suspensions or to operate with the flight occupancy at no more than 40 percent for four weeks if the number of COVID-19 positive passengers reaches five.