London (AFP)
British Airways announced on Wednesday that all flights to mainland China will be suspended immediately following orders from the United Kingdom to avoid traveling to the country due to the new coronavirus.
"We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following the Foreign Ministry's recommendation," the company said in a statement sent to AFP.
The carrier normally operates daily flights from London Heathrow Airport to Beijing and Shanghai.
British Airways, a subsidiary of the IAG group which also includes Iberia, apologizes to travelers but indicates that the safety of its customers and staff is a priority.
Passengers who have planned to travel to China with British Airways are asked to inquire about the airline's internet sign.
Contacted by AFP, Air France said Wednesday morning that its flight program over China had not been changed. The company serves Beijing (10 flights per week) and Shanghai (13 flights per week) from Paris, the European city best connected with China.
Air France flights to Wuhan (3 flights per week) were suspended on January 24.
In recent days, the airline Cathay Pacific Airways, whose main hub is located in Hong Kong International Airport, had announced that it would "gradually reduce", at least by half, its flights to mainland China from from January 30 and until the end of March.
Likewise, the American airline United Airlines will reduce its service to China.
Meanwhile, Russian airline Ural Airlines, which flies to Munich, Paris and Rome, carrying many Chinese tourists, has announced the suspension of all flights to Europe due to the spread of the new coronavirus. .
Twenty-six additional deaths from the new coronavirus have been recorded in China, bringing the total death toll to 132. The number of people infected was Wednesday at 5,974 across the country, according to the latest figures from national health authorities.
© 2020 AFP