Meeting with the European Union (EU) Delegation on the Resumption of EU airlines

2020-06-08 | Beijing

hereunder are the feedback and request of the members of the WG: 

1.         Unbalanced number of scheduled passenger flights between China and foreign airlines

According to the Rule of Five/One on international passenger flights listed in the notice, only one weekly passenger flight operated by a foreign airline to China from an EU Member State is permitted; however, more than one flight by different Chinese airlines may operate on one route to EU Member States. This decision, taken unilaterally by the Chinese authorities, violates the EU-China Bilateral Air Transport Agreement and hinders the resumption of full operations by EU airlines in the China market.   

2.         Difficulties in obtaining a Confirmation Letter on the Capacity to Provide Support during the Epidemic Prevention and Control Period from provincial Joint Prevention and Control Mechanisms or provincial leading groups on epidemic response

Although the contacts at provincial points of entry for handling the application of Confirmation Letter were given on 10^th June to the airline companies, the timeline and procedure are still not predictable due to lack of coordination among the different administrations at the central and provincial levels. 

3.          ‘Circuit-breaker’ measures will cause uncertainty and barriers for flight planning and ticket booking

Lack of clarity for implementing the measure on the suspension of a route due to positive nucleic acid tests among arriving passengers numbering above certain thresholds increase pressure and potential losses for airlines when dealing with subsequent flight planning and readjusting flights for affected passengers. The cancelation of flights upon the same threshold for the big and small flights are not fair and reasonable.

“Circuit Breaker” contradicts CAAC’s policy on the ticket sales (no CAAC’s confirmation, no sale of ticket) if the flight is cancelled at the short notice. This measure damages the passengers’ interests because of very limited replaceable flights under the rule of FIVE/ ONE .

4.         Temporary Suspension of the Entry of Foreigners with Valid Chinese Visas and Residence Permits impedes the resumption of flights and recovery of work 

The inability to obtain entry permits is preventing a large number of foreign managers, technicians, visitors and their family members, from returning to China. This seriously hampers the resumption of international exchanges, business and investment, and directly affects the recovery of work and resumption of flights.

In considering the above-mentioned issues, the European Chamber would recommend the relevant Chinese administrations to:

1.       Align all measures and decisions implemented at central and provincial administrative levels.

2.       Specify the application procedures and contacts for obtaining a confirmation letter at the provincial entry points.

3.       Relax the current circuit breaker measures and remove the most stringent restrictions.

4.       Increase the frequency of flights by foreign airlines to match the same number of Chinese airlines flights to a specific EU country.

5.       Issue entry permits for Europeans who need travel to China for work and family reunion purposes.