Covid epidemic in Taiwan: Hundreds of China Airlines' pilots in emergency quarantine, flights cancelled

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

The number of China Airlines' pilots infected with SARS-CoV-2 has increased. As of 1 May 2021, 20 people had been diagnosed with the incident including pilots, their family members and Novotel Taoyuan Airport employees. As the epidemic continued to spread, China Airlines, which owns 109 aircraft as of 30 April 2021, has announced the cancellation of 24 round-trip international flights around the world on 29 and 30 April.

Since 20 April 2021, a number of China Airlines pilots have been diagnosed. On 1 May, another family member of a China Airlines pilot was diagnosed. So far, the infection of China Airlines pilots has led to 20 people being diagnosed, including at least 9 pilots.

China Airlines announced in the morning of 29 April that from 29 April to 15 May 2021 it will cancel 6 round-trip flights to Los Angeles, 5 round-trip flights to San Francisco, and 1 round-trip flight to Vancouver. A total of 12 round-trip flights and 24 sorties will be cancelled. However, as the epidemic continues to expand in Taiwan, China Airlines once again announced the cancellation of 24 round-trip flights and 48 flights around the world on 30 April. However, it still maintains adjustments and cancels passenger flights, and the cargo operations have not yet been adjusted.