KAL flights barred from Hong Kong for 2 weeks

Korean Air Lines planes are parked at Incheon International Airport on Monday. [NEWS1]

Korean Air Lines flights are barred from Hong Kong for the next two weeks after several passengers tested positive for Covid upon arrival.

The airline says the reaction is excessive.

Five passengers who flew on flight KE607 on Dec. 23 tested positive at Hong Kong airport. They had passed PCR tests taken within 72 hours of departure from Korea.

Hong Kong authorities barred Korean Air Lines from operating the route through Jan. 8, according to the airline. It runs three flights a week, so a total of six Incheon-Hong Kong flights are suspended.

Korean Air Lines “followed all the procedures that an airline should,” said the carrier on Monday. It added that it is appealing the Hong Kong authorities' decision.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]