These Airlines Have Called it Quits Over the Coronavirus
Given the fast-changing effects of the coronavirus on China's transport systems, we recommend that you contact your airline directly if you're flying out of Beijing to make sure your flight has not been affected. We'll update this blog with additional changes as things develop or follow our official WeChat account (ID: theBeijinger) and type in the keyword “fly” to automatically receive up-to-date information about flight cancellations and changes to/from Beijing.
Trying to come back to Beijing? Or perhaps trying to leave despite our opinion that staying put is the best option?Whatever your plans, below we have compiled (and will continue to do so as we get more confirmed information) a list of airlines that have, well, thrown in the towel, so to speak, as far as flying to/from Beijing (and China) is concerned due to the coronavirus health crisis the world is currently trying to contain.
Airline announcements
AFRICAN AIRLINES
EGYPTAIR: According to the airline’s official Twitter page (@EGYPTAIR): “EGYPTAIR announced the suspension of its flights from-to Chinese cities, as Hangzhou flights will be suspended starting from the first of February and then Beijing and Guangzhou starting from Feb 4.” (Dated Jan 30, 9.35pm)
ROYAL AIR MAROC: According to the airline’s official Twitter page (@RAM_Maroc): “Due to the important decrease in the Beijing flights demand, Royal Air Maroc has decided to temporarily suspend this route starting from Jan 31 and until Feb 29.” (Dated Jan 31, 5.12am)
ASIAN & PACIFIC AIRLINES
AIR MACAU: According to the airline’s official flight change notice page on airmacau.com.mo: All Beijing-Macau flights until Feb 10 are canceled. (Dated Feb 2, 5.03pm)
ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS (ANA): According to Japanese national daily The Mainichi (mainichi.jp): “Japan Airlines Co. and All Nippon Airways Co. also said Tuesday they will suspend flights including those between Narita airport near Tokyo and Beijing from later this month through the end of March." (Dated Feb 4)
ASIANA AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official notice page on flyasiana.com: “Additional China routes will be suspended due to the coronavirus situation.” This affects the Incheon-Beijing flight from Feb 4-13. (Dated Jan 31)
CATHAY PACIFIC: According to the airline’s official travel advisories page on cathaypacific.com: “In light of the Government Response Plan to combat the coronavirus infection, we will be reducing the capacity of our flights to and from mainland China by 50 percent or more, from Jan 30 to the end of March 2020. The flight schedule list will be updated progressively. All passengers are advised to check their latest booking arrangement.” (Last updated on Feb 2, 6.15pm)
CEBU PACIFIC AIR: According to the airline’s official travel advisory page on cebupacificair.com: “In light of developments related to the novel coronavirus, Cebu Pacific will be cancelling all flights between the Philippines and mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) from Fe 2 to Mar 29, 2020.” (Dated Feb 1)
EL AL AIRLINES: According to The Jewish News (jewishnews.timesofisrael.com): “The airline announced that its flight arriving from Beijing on Thursday (Feb 6) would be the last until Mar 25.” (Dated Feb 2, 11.01am)
EMIRATES: According to the airline’s official travel updates page on emirates.com: “Travelers will be subject to additional medical tests when departing PEK airport from 5 February, and should report to the airport 8 hours prior to their scheduled departure time.” (Last updated Feb 3, 8.25pm Dubai time)
ETIHAD AIRWAYS: According to Bloomberg: “All passengers flying out of Beijing will be required to undergo comprehensive medical screening for as long as eight hours before boarding.” (Last updated Feb 4, 12.15am)
HIMALAYA AIRLINES: According to a pop-up announcement on the airline’s official website at himalaya-airlines.com: “In the wake of recent novel coronavirus outbreak, we have suspended most of our flights on Nepal-China sector until further notice.” (Webpage accessed on Feb 3, 3am Beijing time)
HONG KONG AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official news page on hongkongairlines.com: “In view of the Government Response Plan for novel coronavirus infection, Hong Kong Airlines is cancelling mainland China flights between Jan 30 and Feb 11, 2020.” (Updated Feb 2, 4.17pm)
INDONESIA: According to The Jakarta Post (thejakartapost.com): “Indonesia will... temporarily stop flights to and from mainland China starting Wednesday (Feb 5).” (Updated Feb 2, 4.17pm)
JAPAN AIRLINES (JAL): According to Japanese national daily The Mainichi (mainichi.jp): “Japan Airlines Co. and All Nippon Airways Co. also said Tuesday they will suspend flights including those between Narita airport near Tokyo and Beijing from later this month through the end of March." (Dated Feb 4)
KOREAN AIR: According to the airline’s official travel info page on koreanair.com: “Due to novel coronavirus in China... some China route flights are canceled.” This includes the Busan-Beijing (from Feb 2-22), Incheon-Beijing (from Feb 4-22) and Jeju-Beijing (from Feb 2-22) flights. (Dated Jan 31)
PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES: According to local news site Dawn (dawn.com): “Pakistan International Airlines decided on Thursday (Jan 30) to suspend flights to Beijing until Feb 2 (Sun).” (Updated Jan 31)
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official news page on philippineairlines.com: “Effective immediately until Feb 29, 2020, Philippine Airlines will be cancelling all flights between Manila and the following points in greater China: Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Quanzhou (Jinjiang), and Macau.” (Dated Feb 2)
QANTAS: According to the airline’s official travel updates page on qantas.com: “We will suspend our two direct services between mainland China and Australia (Sydney-Beijing and Sydney-Shanghai) from Feb 9 until Mar 29, 2020, due to the entry restrictions imposed by countries including Singapore and the United States.” (Website accessed on Feb 3, 2am Beijing time)
QATAR AIRWAYS: According to the airline’s official travel alert page via qatarairways.zendesk.com: “Qatar Airways has taken the decision to suspend flights to and from mainland China from Feb 3 until further notice due to significant operational challenges caused by entry restrictions imposed by a number of countries.” (Website accessed on Feb 3, 2am Beijing time)
SINGAPORE AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official news and announcements page on singaporeair.com: “Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will further reduce their frequencies on services to Mainland China in February 2020 due to the entry restrictions issued by the Singapore authorities on Jan 31, 2020.” The affected flights are from Feb 4-Mar 1. (Last updated on Feb 1, 11.30am)
TURKMENISTAN AIRLINES: According to Reuters: “Turkmenistan Airlines, the Central Asian nation’s state carrier, has suspended flights to and from Beijing, the company said on Saturday.” (Dated Feb 1)
VIETNAM AIRLINES: According to The New York Times: “[Vietnam Airlines] flights between Vietnam and Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen will be suspended from Tuesday (Feb 4).” (Dated Feb 1)EUROPEAN AIRLINES
AIR ASTANA: According to the airline’s official news and press release page on airastana.com: “Effective from Feb 3, Air Astana suspends all flights to Urumqi and Beijing. Final return flights from Urumqi and Beijing will be carried out on Feb 3 to carry back passengers who have earlier travelled to China.” (Dated Jan 30)
AIR FRANCE: According to the airline’s official flash info page on airfrance.us: “After careful consideration of the developing situation, today we have decided to suspend all our scheduled flights to and from China (Wuhan until Feb 29, 2020; Shanghai and Beijing until Feb 9, 2020.” (Updated on Feb 2, 11am Paris time)
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official travel alerts page on austrian.com: “After a thorough evaluation of all currently available information on the coronavirus, Austrian Airlines has decided to suspend its flights to and from China until including Feb 29, 2020. This affects the destinations Beijing and Shanghai.” (Website accessed on Feb 4, 10am Beijing time)
BRITISH AIRWAYS: According to the airline’s official coronavirus page on britishairways.com: “Following Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to mainland China we have cancelled our flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai with immediate effect, until Feb 29, while we assess the situation.” (Dated Feb 2, 4.35pm)
FINNAIR: According to the airline’s official travel updates page on finnair.com: “Following a thorough analysis of all currently available information on the coronavirus and its impacts on air travel to and from China, Finnair has decided to cancel the flights to/from mainland China as follows: (1) Beijing and Shanghai routes between Feb 6 and Feb 29, 2020; and (2) Beijing Daxing, Nanjing and Guangzhou routes between Feb 6 and Mar 29.” (Dated Jan 31)
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official flight disruptions page on klm.com: “As of Monday Feb 3, 2020, we will suspend all KLM flights to Beijing and Shanghai. The measure will be effective until Sunday, Feb 9, 2020. After that, the situation will be re-evaluated.” (Last updated on Feb 2, 7.55pm Amsterdam time)
LOT POLISH AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official press release page on corporate.lot.com: “In reference to the World Health Organization statement regarding the spreading of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus, following consultation with Poland’s Ministry of Health and staff operating at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Management Board of LOT Polish Airlines has decided to temporarily suspend flights to Beijing until Feb 9, 2020.” (Dated Jan 31)
LUFTHANSA AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official flight information page on lufthansa.com: “After thoroughly evaluating all currently available information on the coronavirus, Lufthansa Group has decided to suspend its Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian Airlines flights to/from Beijing and Shanghai until Feb 29 with immediate effect.” (Website accessed on Feb 4, 10am Beijing time)
SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES (SAS): According to The Local (thelocal.se), a Swedish news site quoting the airline in a statement: “After evaluating the situation in China regarding the coronavirus, SAS has decided to suspend all flights to and from Shanghai and Beijing.” Furthermore, the news says: “The cancellations affect ... flights between Jan 31 and Feb 9. SAS said it was also closing sales for flights to Shanghai and Beijing until Feb 29.” (Dated Jan 30, 2.20pm)
SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES: According to the airline’s official Twitter page (@LX_Newsroom): “Swiss decided to extend flight suspensions to and from Beijing and Shanghai until 29th February, after thoroughly evaluating all currently available information on the coronavirus. Flight operations to/from Hong Kong will continue as planned.” (Dated Feb 3, 11.16pm)
TURKISH AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official announcements page on turkishairlines.com: “Working with national and international health authorities regarding the Coronavirus, Turkish Airlines has suspended all flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Xi'an until Feb 9, 2020.” (Dated Jan 29, 11.28pm)
URAL AIRLINES: According to Russian news agency TASS (tass.com): “Ural Airlines has suspended 11 regular flights from Russia to China from February 1 due to the coronavirus, the airline’s press service reported on Friday.” This affects the Yekaterinburg-Beijing flights. The news agency adds: “The airline also announced that after canceling 11 regular flights it plans to launch charter flights to take tourists from China to Russia and vice versa.” (Dated Feb 1, 1.11am)
NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINES
AIR CANADA: According to the airline’s official news release via mediaroom.com: “Air Canada said today that following the Government of Canada's Advisory to avoid non-essential travel to mainland China it is temporarily suspending all direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai effective Jan 30, 2020 until Feb 29, 2020.” (Dated Jan 29)
AMERICAN AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official newsroom page on aa.com: “Based on the U.S. Department of State’s recent increase of the China Travel Advisory to a Level 4 (Do Not Travel), American is suspending its operations to and from the Chinese mainland beginning today through Mar 27.” (Dated Jan 31, 10.30am)
DELTA AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official news hub page on delta.com: “Delta has made the decision to accelerate its plan to temporarily suspend flights between the U.S. and China to Feb 2 following updated US Health and Human Services screening protocols that will go into effect on Feb 2. The last China-bound flight departing the US will leave on Saturday, Feb. 1 with the last return flight back to the US departing China on Feb 2.” (Dated Feb 1, 10.01am)
UNITED AIRLINES: According to the airline’s official important notices page on united.com: “Due to the continued drop in demand for travel to China and the US Department of State's decision to raise its China travel advisory to a Level 4, we'll be suspending our flights to Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai from Feb 5 to Mar 28. Until February 5, we'll continue to fly to these cities, but less frequently.” (Last updated Feb 3, 12am Beijing time)Countries and regions with travel restrictions for travelers with recent travel history in China
AUSTRALIA: According to homeaffairs.gov.au: "The Australian Government has announced that as of Feb 1, 2020, all travellers arriving from any part of mainland China, regardless of nationality, will be subject to enhanced border control measures to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the Australian community. Australia will deny entry to anyone who has left or transited mainland China from Feb 1, with the exception of: Australian citizens, permanent residents, immediate family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents including spouses, minor dependents and legal guardians. Limited exemptions also exist for airline and maritime crew, where they have taken appropriate precautionary measures." (Webpage accessed Feb 4, 12.15pm.)
ITALY: According to afp.com: “The Italian government said it was suspending all flights between Italy and China, adding it was the first EU government to do so.” (Dated Jan 31)
JAPAN: According to Japan Today (japantoday.com): "Foreigners who have been in Hubei within two weeks ... prior to their arrival to Japan, will be barred. Foreigners are now required to declare at airports if they have been to Hubei during that period ... Holders of Chinese passports issued in the central Chinese province will also be prohibited from entering the country in principle. They are subject to the precautionary measures, whether they display symptoms or not. (Webpage accessed Feb 4, 12.20pm.)
KUWAIT: According to Gulf Insider, Kuwait will "deny entry to any Chinese who visited China in the past two weeks even if he has a valid residence permit ... and it also forbids entry to all nationalities who were present in the Republic of China and Hong Kong during the past two weeks." (Webpage accessed Feb 4 at 1.10pm.)
MACAU: According to the Bangkok Post (bangkokpost.com), the region will "deny entry to visitors from Hubei province or those who visited the province 14 days prior to arrival unless they can provide documentation showing they are not infected with the virus that broke out in the province. (Updated: Jan 27, 4.29pm).
MALAYSIA: According to the Bangkok Post, the country has "imposed a temporary ban on Chinese nationals from the city of Wuhan and its surrounding Hubei province. (Updated: Jan 27, 4.29pm).
MONGOLIA: According to Reuters: "Mongolia will close all ports of entry from and into China until Mar 2." (Webpage accessed Feb 4, 12.50pm.)
NEW ZEALAND: According to The Guardian, "New Zealand has closed its borders to any foreigners arriving from China – including those who have passed through in transit – and boosted its border screening in an attempt to prevent coronavirus arriving in the country." (Webpage accessed Feb 4, 12.55pm.)
PHILIPPINES: According to CNN Philippines, the country's temporary ban will cover "The entry of any person, regardless of nationality, except Filipino citizens and foreigners holding permanent resident visas issued by the Philippine government, directly coming from China and its special administrative regions (SARs) Hong Kong and Macau; The entry of any person, regardless of nationality, except Filipino citizens and holders of permanent resident visa issued by the Philippine government, who within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, has been to China and its SARs ... [and will place a ] temporary ban on Filipinos from travelling to China. (Webpage accessed Feb 4, 12.25pm.)
SINGAPORE: According to The New York Times, Singapore will be "banning entry to all Chinese visitors and foreigners with a recent history of travel to China [within the last 14 days] ... The ban will also apply to transiting passengers but will exempt residents and long-term pass holders such as those on work permits, student visas or long-term visit passes. (Updated
UNITED STATES: According to The Washington Post: "... restrictions ban non-US citizens who recently visited China from entering the country and quarantine Americans who visited Hubei province ... within the past 14 days. (Immediate relatives of US citizens, permanent residents, and flight crew members are exempted from the ban.) Screening and self-monitoring of symptoms for Americans who recently visited other parts of China [are also required]. All flights from China as of Sunday evening are being funneled to 11 airports: in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Honolulu, Newark, Detroit, Dallas and just outside the District." (Updated Feb 4, 9.09am Beijing time).
UZBEKISTAN: According to Reuters, the country will "Suspend flights to and from China over the coronavirus epidemic." (Webpage accessed Feb 4, 1.20pm.)Can't Go Outside? Learn Some Viral Mandarin to Fight Coronavirus Boredom
Image: Business Insider
advertisement
Beijingers Are Buzzing About