It's back to traveling to China: rules and map of flights from Italy
After three long years, China reopened to international tourism last March 15, and embassies resumed [...]
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Korean Air
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ITA Airways
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China Southern Airlines
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After three long years the China reopened to international tourism last March 15, and embassies have resumed issuing the various types of visas for foreigners, including those for tourism.
In this article:
Let's see what the new rules are for entering the Dragon Country and, most importantly, how the map of flights to China from Italy has changed.
The reopening of China-which in recent years has put in place the tougher and longer restrictions to counteract the Covid-19 pandemic-was announced last January, but still requires certain certifications to be submitted.
The rules for entering China, between visas and buffers
According to the official website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Italy, in addition to resuming the issuance of visas (including those for medical treatment) is also restored the validity of visas released before March 28, 2020, and not yet expired.
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They then return to being exempt from visa the following situations: those entering Hainan Island; cruise ship passengers entering Shanghai; foreigners in groups from Hong Kong and Macau entering from Guangdong Province.
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Passengers departing from Italy to China on direct flights, however, are required to submit certification of negativity to Covid made through molecular (RT-PCR) or antigenic testing (including by rapid antigen self-testing, the embassy stresses). Testing should be done within 48 hours prior to boarding.
But it doesn't end there. The website of the Chinese Embassy in Italy specifies:
After receiving a negative test result, it will be necessary to fill out the online form "Entry/exit health declaration card of the People's Republic of China" via WeChat's "Customs Passenger Fingertip Service" mini-program, via the internet page: (https://htdecl.chinaport.gov.cn) or through the "Pocket Customs" application.
On board aircraft, it is also mandatory to wear masks and, once you get to destinations you need to complete "customs procedures with the above-mentioned Customs Declaration.
Customs will conduct random swabs, and people who present the Declaration with abnormalities or who present with fever and/or other symptoms will be tested. With a positive result, one must remain in home isolation, at residences or undergo medical treatment."
The risks to major European hubs
Despite testing and isolation risk to benefit in the first instance from the Chinese reopening will surely be the business travel, those related to Mice (an acronym for meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) and leisure travel especially group travel.
The reopening of the Chinese inbound and outbound market will also have a major impact on the entire global travel and tourism system, but the question mark remains on the sealing of some stopovers European airports.
Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, and Heathrow (among others) will have to combine the huge flows in and out of China with pre-existing overcrowding due to the shortage of personnel and to the aftermath of the summer 2022 flight chaos that seems poised to repeat itself in the coming summer.
How to fly to China (with stopovers)
This is also why it becomes less inviting to think about flying to China by stopping over at one of the two major European hubs despite Air France, for example, has launched a major operation as early as February, and from July 1 daily flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
KLM plans to increase frequencies to the Asian giant starting March 26 by operating three times a week from Amsterdam to Hong Kong and with six nonstop flights to both Beijing and Shanghai, which will become daily from May.
The Lufthansa Group for the time being, it has announced a doubling of direct flights from Germany to nine weekly frequencies since March, but has not yet released details of operations.
One of the most attractive options for travelers, remains the stopover in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates, in fact, from March 29 it is increasing frequencies to Hong Kong with a daily nonstop service from its Dubai hub.
To Shanghai, however, the airline operates a daily flight operated by Boeing 777-300Er; while on Guangzhou daily flight is served with A380. Emirates also operates a daily Boeing 777-300E flight to Beijing.
Korean Air, finally, offers as many as 84 weekly connections and will increase to 99 weekly frequencies by the end of May with connections from Incheon and Gimpo airports to major Chinese cities, especially Beijing and Shanghai.
Qatar Airways, finally, From March 26 will resume direct flights from Doha at Beijing's Daxing International Airport and will bring the Doha-Guangzhou route to daily flights.
Arrives late British Airways: From April 3, the London Heathrow-Shanghai Pudong returns with seven weekly frequencies, while the London Heathrow-Beijing service will restart next June 3.
Direct flights from Italy
Absent is Ita Airways, which does not plan any flights over China As confirmed by Emiliana Limosani at the BIT, the only Italian airline flying directly to the Asian giant is Alpitour Group's carrier, Neos.
The Italian airline flies from Milan Malpensa every Wednesday with destination Nanjing. The return from China is scheduled every Friday and both flights are operated with B787 Dreamliner.
From March 26, however, Air China will fly from Rome Fiumicino to Beijing with four connections a week - Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays - operated with Airbus A350-900s, replacing the B787-9 Dreamliner used in pre-Covid. From Rome, in addition, the airline already operates the route to Hangzhou three times a week by Airbus A330-300.
But the network from Milan Malpensa of Air China is even more important: the direct flight to Shanghai restarts March 26 and will have daily frequencies. The Milan-Beijing flight that to date is quarterly will also become daily with the start of the Iata summer schedule. Also confirmed for the summer is the flight from Malpensa that sees an Air China plane take off three times a week with destination Wenzhou.
China Eastern will also operate four weekly frequencies between Rome Fiumcino and Shanghai from March 26.
Starting July 1, however, Cathay Pacific will operate three weekly flights between Milan Malpensa and Hong Kong (there are currently two flights a week) and may reopen direct from Rome Fiumicino by the end of the year. On board Cathay is also not required to wear a face mask.
It remains to be seen whether Hainan Airlines, China Southern, and Sichuan Airlines will also resume direct flights to Italy in the coming weeks as they operated before the pandemic.
