Airlines around the world have begun suspending flights to and from China as fears over the spread of the Wuhan Coronavirus begin to mount. The move comes as increased security measures are being put in place by the United States and other countries.
Several US airlines announced the reduction of flights to and from China within rapid succession last week as cases of the Wuhan Coronavirus had been discovered worldwide. On Jan. 29, Delta Airlines (NYSE: DAL) announced that it would be reducing the number of flights to and from China, reducing the available destinations in China from 42 to 21. The reduction goes into effect on Thursday and will remain in place until April 30. Delta has stated that it will adjust its operations as required.
Delta's reductions are longer and more encompassing than its US contemporaries; American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) has suspended all flights between Los Angeles International Airport and China from Feb. 7 to March 26. United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) has only suspended flights from Feb. 1st to Feb.
Foreign airlines have also enacted similar prohibitions with airlines of the International Airlines Group (LSE: IAG) announcing suspensions. British Airways and Iberia have announced the total suspension of all flights to the Chinese mainland amid Coronavirus concerns and warnings from the British Foreign Office advising against all but "essential" trips to China. Other foreign airlines have followed: Turkmenistan Airlines has suspended flights to Beijing while China Eastern Airlines (NYSE: CEA) announced it was suspending flights to several major US cities. Given the rising concerns of the Coronavirus' spread, it is likely more airline suspensions are to come in the coming weeks. Suspensions will likely continue until the Chinese government can at least contain the spread of the virus.
The latest airline suspensions also come as the Department of Homeland Security announced new protocols to prevent the spread of the virus in the United States. The DHS' directive states that any flights with an individual who has been to China in the last two weeks will be re-routed to one of several specially designated airports to undergo health screenings.