The mechanism banned airlines from landing in Hong Kong if five or more people or more than 5% of passengers tested positive upon arrival

Chief executive Augustus Tang announced the recruitment drive almost two years after the company underwent a restructuring

The Hong Kong carrier, like rivals in mainland China and South Korea, is continuing to use Russian airspace on flights to Europe, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24

A spokesman said the airline was doing all it could to retain its flight crew while hiring available pilots in the city