Precautions on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): March 26, 2020

China announces new aviation rules. Latvian carrier airBaltic cancels flights. Bangladesh announces a full lockdown.

China
The CAAC in China announced that it is implementing new aviation rules for passenger flights; the rules will go into effect March 29, 2020. Key regulations include:

• “[E]ach Chinese airline is only allowed to maintain one route to any specific country with no more than one flight a week;”
• Foreign airlines are only allowed to maintain one route to China with no more than one flight a week;
• Flights to and from China must have a passenger load of no more than 75%; and
• Passenger planes may be used for all-cargo flights and no such flight will count against the total number of passenger flights operated.

airBaltic
The Government of the Republic of Latvia announced the suspension of international air traffic starting on March 17, 2020 in order to limit the spread of Coronavirus. All airBaltic connections will be temporarily suspended starting on March 17 through April 14, 2020 inclusive, including operations of airBaltic from Estonia and Lithuania.

Bangladesh
Bangladesh imposed a nationwide lockdown that went into effect at midnight on March 24, 2020. However, covered vans, trucks, and vehicles carrying medicine, fuel, and perishable items are exempt from the lockdown, according to Obaidul Quader, Minister of Road, Transport and Bridges.

The overall situation remains very fluid. Contact your local Expeditors representative for more information and operational assistance.