Civil aviation sector responds fast to outbreak with help

The civil aviation sector has given quick a response to the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, helping to transport medical supplies and medical workers to support the epicenter of Hubei province amid the epidemic, a senior official said at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office on Saturday.

Li Jian, deputy head of Civil Aviation Administration of China, said that 21 domestic airlines have carried out 241 flights between Jan 24 and Feb 14, transporting 29,364 people. 

Among these flights, 181 were missions for transporting medical supplies and medical teams to Hubei, and nine were charter flights that ferried back to Hubei 1,185 travelers who were stranded overseas because of the epidemic outbreak.

He said that the civil aviation sector made a rather quick response to the emergency to complete missions in a short time.

"In two days we coordinated 50 charter flights to transport 6,288 medical workers to Wuhan," he said. "The farthest flight landed in Durban, South Africa, bringing 54 tons of medical supplies home."

General aviation has also played a key role in containing the epidemic thanks to its convenience and flexible usage, he said. 

"We've streamlined procedures for approval and enhanced ground services, also released preferential policies on fuel settlement to secure air traffic amid the epidemic," he said.

According to Li, 123 general aviation companies have participated in missions of transporting medical supplies and spraying for disinfection, with a total of 4,898 flights and 1,308 working hours recorded.