Governments across east Asia are imposing restrictions on travellers from the UK following the emergence of a more infectious strain of the Covid-19 virus, dealing another blow to the already-staggering long-haul air travel sector.
South Korea and the Philippines today suspended flights from the UK until the end of this year. The Japanese government said it would bar entry to any non-residents from the UK starting tomorrow, and require any Japanese nationals or long-term residents to either quarantine or undergo Covid-19 tests on their return.
The announcements came after Singapore yesterday barred entry to any non-residents who had travelled to the UK in the past 14 days, effective tomorrow.
Elsewhere in the region, Hong Kong and India have already suspended flights from the UK, adding to restrictions imposed in Europe and elsewhere.
The emergence of the new coronavirus strain and ensuing travel curbs have helped pressure oil prices this week. Asia-Pacific jet fuel margins — fob Singapore jet fuel swaps against Dubai crude values — have weakened from $5.33/bl on 18 December to $4.30/bl yesterday, although the direct impact of the UK flight bans on demand is likely to be limited.
Passenger traffic on Asia-Pacific airlines fell by 95.6pc from a year earlier in October, the steepest decline of any region, according to the latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (Iata).
