Hong Kong has temporarily barred Air India from operating in the country after a number of passengers originating from India tested positive for Covid-19.

The ban was its second in little more than a month after its most recent flight on September 18 detected six passengers with Covid-19.

Under emergency health regulations tightened on September 15, any airline that carries five Covid-19 passengers or more, or two consecutive flights with three or more diagnosed passengers, faces being banned from Hong Kong.

Air India has been barred from operating until October 3.

Malaysia's Cathay Dragon Airlines was also barred from service after it detected five covid positive passengers who had transited from Kuala Lumpur.

Last week, Air India Express was banned by Dubai for 15 days after it detected two covid positive passengers. The ban was however lifted within 24 hours.