On the press conference of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held on March 23, the head of Operation Supervisory Center of CAAC introduced the situation of preventing and controlling the overseas imported COVID-19 cases in accordance with the laws. He expressed that Beijing Capital International Airport has operated smoothly since the adjustment of the first entry point for its international passenger flights from March 20, and a total of seven flights have been adjusted from March 20 to 22.

According to the person in charge, with the continuous spread of the epidemic overseas, it is expected that the number of returning citizens will grow rapidly, and the battle against the import of overseas epidemic is crucial for the overall success of the current efforts. As an important international aviation hub in China, Beijing Capital International Airport is facing unprecedented risks of imported COVID-19 cases and is at the forefront of the fight against the epidemic abroad. In order to win this critical fight, five ministries have jointly issued a notice with the approval of the State Council to adjust the first entry points for international flights bound for Beijing to other designated points. This measure has firstly helped to strictly control the continuous import of overseas COVID-19 cases into Beijing, and secondly, enhanced the supporting capability for the safety and health of passengers entering Beijing through international flights, and also improved the efficiency of customs clearance for inbound passengers to facilitate their entry while strictly guard against the import of the epidemic.

In response to the selection criteria for 12 first entry point airports, the person in charge stated that the principle of convenient operation shall be followed to the greatest extent, and airlines could choose nearby first entry point airports depending on the direction of their routes. At the same time, the selection must satisfy three standards. First, it must be an international airport which is capable of accepting flights from foreign countries or regions to land and take off and qualified for customs clearance. Second, the supporting capability of the airport should meet the regulations on safe operation; the airport should satisfy the operation requirements for Category E large aircraft such as Airbus A330 and Boeing B777, with good record of safe operation; the support facilities and equipment and the capabilities of its professional personnel should meet relevant requirements. Third, the airport must have branches, subsidiaries or business departments of major domestic airlines to provide supporting resources for stopover flights. At present, all 12 airports which have been selected as the first entry point airports all meet the above requirements. In addition, the arrangements and related measures for designating the first entry point for international flights bound for Beijing will be adjusted in due time base on the situation of the epidemic.