The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has welcomed the city government's most-recent move to shorten quarantine requirements for inbound travelers saying that this will bode well for the aviation sector. 

"AAHK welcomes the Government's adjustment of quarantine arrangement for inbound passengers. AAHK believes the adjustment will be conducive to the recovery of air traffic and has been working closely with the airport community to prepare for the expected increase in flights and passengers," AAHK said.

"AAHK will continue to facilitate the preventive and quarantine measures implemented by the Government at Hong Kong International Airport," it added.

On Monday, Hong Kong announced that it will shorten its mandatory hotel quarantine period from seven days to three days for travelers entering the city starting Friday, August 12 — the closest move of the city government to opening its borders since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new rule requires a three-day hotel quarantine while taking multiple PCR tests and daily rapid antigen tests and a four-day period of home quarantine with medical surveillance, in which travelers will not be allowed into 'high-risk" places in the meantime.

Aside from the Hong Kong airport, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) also welcomed the city government's relaxation of entry quarantine measures.

HKTDC said this will have a positive impact on Hong Kong's economic recovery and strengthen the city’s international competitiveness.  

"... We welcome the HKSAR Government's announcement to ease quarantine measures which strike a balance between public health and economic recovery.  I believe this latest development sends a positive signal to the global community and will help drive Hong Kong's economic momentum and strengthen the city’s international competitiveness," said Dr. Peter KN Lam, chairman of, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Businesses have been calling for the easing of Covid-19 rules in the financial hub to kickstart the recovery of the Hong Kong economy as most of the world has done away with their own pandemic restrictions.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific was among those calling on the government for more easing of these restrictions.

"We are asking the government to urgently provide a clear roadmap showing the complete removal of all Covid-related restrictions for aircrew and passengers as soon as is feasible to protect Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status," the airline said in an earlier statement.