Paris (AFP)

Several airlines have made the decision to suspend or reduce their flights to mainland China due to the spread of the new coronavirus which has already killed 132 people.

Here is an update on the airlines that have communicated on the subject.

- They suspend their flights -

BRITISH AIRWAYS: The British company announced Wednesday the immediate suspension of all its flights to mainland China. A decision following the instructions issued by the United Kingdom to avoid going to the country.

It is the first European company to announce such a measure.

British Airways operates daily flights from London to Beijing or Shanghai.

LION AIR: the Indonesian air group which operates the largest fleet in Southeast Asia will suspend its flights to China from February 1.

In total, more than 15 Chinese destinations are served by this company or its subsidiary Batik Air. One million Chinese tourists visit Indonesia each year.

THREE BURMA COMPANIES: Myanmar National Airlines, Air KBZ and Myanmar Airways International, the three Burmese companies that connect to China, have announced that they will cut their routes on February 1.

- They are reducing their service -

UNITED AIRLINES: the American company announced on Tuesday that it was suspending "certain flights" to Beijing, Shanghai and even Hong Kong between February 1 and 8.

The American authorities have advised their nationals not to go to China at this time.

CATHAY PACIFIC: the company, the main hub of which is located in Hong Kong international airport, has indicated that it will "gradually reduce" its flights to and from mainland China by at least half. This decision will take effect Thursday, until the end of March.

FINNAIR: the Finnish company which has multiplied its links with Asia in recent years will suspend certain flights but maintains links with Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guanghzou.

It justifies this reduction in airfoil by the suspension decided by Beijing of organized trips in China and abroad.

- They are not currently changing their flight plans -

AIR FRANCE: the French company told AFP that for the moment its flight program remains unchanged. Like the other airlines, it has suspended flights to Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, since January 24.

Air France's 10 weekly flights to Beijing and 13 to Shanghai from Paris, the European city best connected to China, have been maintained.

LUFTHANSA: no cancellation either for the German company which claims "to have implemented several measures".

Masks were notably distributed to cabin crew and the ground. The Lufthansa group operates ten flights a day to and from China and "several dozen" per week.

SAS: the Swedish company which serves Beijing and Shanghai once a week has not suspended its flights but ensures "to follow developments with attention".

© 2020 AFP