Coronavirus: Air traffic in China slowly recovering

Since 23 April 2020, Wuhan-Tianhe airport had remained closed due to the coronavirus epidemic. On 8 April 2020, the airport was officially reopened to passengers, with a gradual resumption of domestic flights only.

A water-salute as Wuhan Airport reopens (source:weibo)

An international airport that remained closed for a long time 

Previously, the airport's activity was very much in decline. Only a few repatriation flights, cargo flights and medical support flights were allowed during the 76-day closure. Wuhan Airport recorded a total of 221 flights, including 107 departures and 114 arrivals. These flights carried a total of 11,714 passengers, including 7,119 departures and 4,595 arrivals on the day of the reopening.

Inside Wuhan Airport, the staff is waiting the first passengers (source:weibo)

The airport has two runways and a large passenger terminal. Before the coronavirus crisis, more than 600 flights were scheduled. In 2018, Wuhan Tianhe Airport handled nearly 25 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in Central China (16th in terms of traffic in China).

The airlines that serve Wuhan the most are China Southern, China Eastern and Xiamen Eastern, with connections to Chengdu, Haiko and Shenzhen. Many people blocked by the total confinement rushed to board the first planes.

A gradual recovery 

The first aircraft of the day was Xiamen Airlines MF8095 from Hangzhou, which arrived at 0718. The first departure was China Eastern flight MU2527 to Sanya, which departed at 0724 local time. For the occasion, water salutes were held and celebrations organized in the terminal lobby.

Wuhan Airport reopens and the first flight from China Eastern resumes( source:weibo)

Very strict measures have been taken to combat the coronavirus epidemic: the wearing of masks is compulsory, protective glasses are widespread and temperature controls are numerous. Passengers are asked to keep a distance of 1 metre. In addition, disinfectant gel is available. Against coronavirus, these measures appear to be necessary and could remain in place long after the outbreak.

On average, a plane takes off from Wuhan airport about every 5 minutes during the day.

A slow return to normal

Between the first week of March and the third week of April, domestic flights in China increased by 19.5% compared to the end of February. Currently, Chinese airlines are allowed one flight per week to each destination, while foreign air carriers are allowed one flight per week to China, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Aviation Administration of China on Covid-19.

ForwardKeys has estimated that this means that only 130 international flights will be allowed to land in China each week, and that a maximum of 5,000 people will enter and leave the country each day. Passengers arriving from abroad are still placed in strict 14-day confinement.

The return of air traffic in 2019 is still a long way off, although more and more planes are returning to service. Coronavirus remains the most serious crisis in modern commercial aviation to date.