Asian Airlines Adds Both North and South Africa Routes

Air China and Sichuan Airlines have been given the green light to begin a new international route apiece.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China’s latest round of route approvals includes Air China’s plans for a Beijing Capital (PEK)-Chengdu (CTU)-Johannesburg (JNB) service. Flights would be 2X-weekly.
CTU-JNB is unserved nonstop and would become the Chinese city’s sole direct service to South Africa should the Star Alliance member launch the route.
Air China already serves JNB from Beijing, but with a stop in Shenzhen (SZX) rather than CTU. OAG Schedules Analyser data shows the carrier is currently flying the PEK-SZX-JNB route 1X-weekly using Boeing 777-300 aircraft.
However, the service is set to be suspended for two weeks from Jan. 18 after five passengers on flight CA868 tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 31. Under CAAC rules, any flight carrying five or more passengers testing positive upon arrival in China will have their route suspended for 14 days.
The government body has also suspended Pakistan International Airlines’ Islamabad (ISB)-Xi'an (XIY) route for four weeks after 10 passengers tested positive for the coronavirus on flight PK854 on Jan. 2.
Meanwhile, Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines has been given the go-ahead to start service between Chongqing in south-west China and Cairo. The 7,102-km (4413-mi.) Chongqing Jiangbei International (CKG)-Cairo International (CAI) route has been approved to operate 1X-weekly.