(Yicai Global) July 7 -- China's aviation regulator yesterday issued its first ‘circuit breaker' order targeting an overseas airline since it issued rules instituting this practice on June 4.

US-Bangla Airlines' Flight BS325 from Bangladesh's capital Dhaka to China's Guangzhou will be grounded for one week after five passengers tested positive for novel coronavirus nucleic acid on June 28, tripping the fuse, CAAC said in an online bulletin. The flight's operation will thus be halted for one week starting June 6.

This is the third such order the Civil Aviation Administration of China has issued to date.

The regulator issued the first circuit breaker on June 14, requiring China Southern Airlines' Flight CZ392 from Dhaka to Guangzhou to stand down for four weeks. In its second 'circuit breaker' order on July 1, Sichuan Airlines Flight 3U8392 from Cairo, Egypt to Southwest China's Chengdu was grounded for one week.

China adopted carrot-and-stick measures for international flights starting June 8. Airlines are incentivized with up to two flights per week if they have no Covid-19 cases for three straight weeks.

They are barred from running a flight for one week if five or more passengers on it carry coronavirus. If 10 or more turn up on one flight, CAAC will idle it for four weeks. Affected airlines can only resume a once-a-week schedule after the off-switch period ends, according to the flight policy.

US-Bangla Airlines is the largest private airline in Bangladesh by fleet size and the second-largest after flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Editor: Ben Armour