LONDON, England: Following reports that more of its crew members were forced to quarantine in a government centre, British Airways (BA) temporarily suspended its flights to Hong Kong, claiming it needed to “review operational requirements for this route.”

After a BA staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on 20th November, most crew members were sent to the quarantine camp, according to the South China Morning Post.

The employee and other crew, classified as “close contacts,” were sent to Hong Kong’s Penny’s Bay quarantine centre, but a spokesman for Hong Kong’s Department of Health said the crew members had since returned to the UK.

The restrictions come amidst concern over the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Commenting on the most recent measures forced upon its crew, BA said, “We are supporting crew who are currently isolating in Hong Kong. We work within local regulations for every country we fly to, and always put the safety and wellbeing of our teams and customers at the heart of everything we do.”

In December, Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific cancelled some passenger flights due to staff shortages.

Cathay Pacific operates a “closed loop” system, meaning its air crew, working on three week shifts, must stay in their hotel rooms between flights before going into a 14-day quarantine when they return home.

Hong Kong is pursuing a zero-COVID-19 policy so it might reopen its border with mainland China.

The BA suspension of Hong Kong flights follows the airline’s temporary stoppage of air travel to six south African counties, including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, following the discovery of the Omicron variant.