The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved the phased resumption of international passenger routes at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. The first resumed flight will be operated between Wuhan and Seoul on September 16, according to Wuhan's Civil Aviation Administration.

(Photo: ctdsb.net)

After the outbreak of COVID-19, Wuhan suspended all its 63 international and regional flights. Foreign economic and trade changes by local enterprises and other businesses outside the province have been impacted significantly, and people are looking forward to the resumption of international air routes, said Li Yizhuo, the director of Wuhan's Civil Administration.

As the COVID-19 curve flattens, Wuhan lifted the outbound travel restrictions on April 8 and its airline industry also recovered accordingly. By the end of August, the airport has resumed 73 domestic routes, with the daily passenger throughput exceeding 60,000, and more than 450 takeoffs and landings have been handled in a day, recovering to about 90 percent of the pre-pandemic level.

With the phased resumption of international passenger routes at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, several airlines have applied for the resumption of international and regional flights, including the routes from Wuhan to cities such as Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Hanoi, Sihanoukville, Tokyo, Jakarta and Singapore. Following the approval, the first resumed flight will by operated by South Korea's T'Way Airlines from Wuhan to Seoul.

Meanwhile, the airport has actively developed international cargo routes reaching 29 international air freight hubs in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, with a total of 600 flights grounded. Furthermore, the Wuhan – London – Amsterdam freight route will be opened in the near future, in order to meet the export needs so as to boost the domestic economy.

(Compiled by Yue Siqi)