British Airways has confirmed it has temporarily suspended flights to and from Hong Kong after a crew member reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

The airline has apologised to customers for the disruption to their travel plans.

The British flag carrier is understood to be supporting staff now having to quarantine in the former British territory.

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A member of the flight crew was found to have coronavirus on arrival at Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday, according to reports.

Due to Hong Kong’s COVID rules, the whole crew is having to isolate at a quarantine centre made up of shipping containers.

The day before, another group of BA pilots and crew were released from the centre after spending a week there following one of the pilot’s testing positive for COVID when they arrived in Hong Kong.

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BA said in a statement: “We have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend flights to Hong Kong while we review operational requirements for this route.

“We apologise to our customers who have had their travel plans disrupted and will be in touch to give them options.”

No indication was given by the operator on how long flights would be suspended for on the route.

The development comes as nations around the world tightened controls following the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Ten countries are now on the UK government’s red list for travel: South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.

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Arrivals from all of these countries will need to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days at a cost of £2,285.

Passengers arriving to the UK have been told that from 4am on Tuesday they will have to take a PCR test for COVID-19, with the expectation they will have to self-isolate until they test negative.

All contacts with a suspected case of the Omicron variant will have to isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status, amid concerns existing jabs will be less effective against the strain that is believed to spread rapidly.

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Health Secretary Sajid Javid has also said mandatory mask-wearing will return to shops and public transport on Tuesday under plans to tackle the spread of the new concerning strain.

But the cabinet minister insisted it was going to be a “great Christmas” and said the situation was “nowhere near” the need to reintroduce social distancing rules and work from home guidance.

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