The first international flight in more than five months has landed in China’s capital Beijing with passengers greeted by airport staff in full protective suits as a ban on foreign arrivals eased.

Chinese aviation authorities are allowing arrivals in Beijing under intense covid-19 safety rules from Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, Greece, Denmark, Austria, Sweden and Canada, countries deemed low-risk for cross-border infections.

Passengers disembarked wearing masks and some appeared to be in full protective suits, before going past customs officials and police wearing visors and protective gear.