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Airlines suspending flights to China in response to Coronavirus threat

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Coronavirus related flight cancellations are increasing as international airlines are suspending or sharply curtailing their service to China in response to the outbreak that began in Wuhan last month. Some major airlines like British Airways and the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian) have canceled all flights to China, while others like United and American Airlines have dramatically reduced their schedules.

Track flights at China’s 25 busiest airports

The map below shows flights to and from the 25 busiest airports in mainland China. You may also visit our airports data page to track flights and see cancellations at over 200 airports in China.

Airlines suspending flights

Some airlines have suspended their entire flight programs to China, while others are reducing the number of services offered. The cancellations and reductions generally extend through the month of February. RoutesOnline has an updated list of schedule adjustments by airline.

Air traffic in China

Air traffic departing China’s 25 busiest airports has dropped by more than two-thirds since the beginning of the year. The chart below shows departures on Tuesdays from 31 December to 4 February.

Daily departures from mainland China’s 25 busiest airports since 31 December

Evacuation flights

Some countries are organizing evacuation flights from Wuhan. The United States chartered a 747 earlier this week to bring citizens home. The Kalitta Air 747, which normally carries cargo, was equipped with palletized seating for the journey from Wuhan March Air Reserve Base via Anchorage. Korean Air Lines is using a 747 to carry South Koreans between Wuhan and Seoul. ANA has employed a 767 as a shuttle between Wuhan and Tokyo.

Additionally, a Wamos Air 747 was chartered to bring European citizens home to the UK and Spain. And an Air India 747 will evacuate over 300 Indian citizens from Wuhan on 31 January. Royal Jordanian sent a 787 to Wuhan to bring Jordanians back to Amman.

A chartered A380 operated by HiFly is expected to depart Paris on 31 January for Wuhan. It will then return with French citizens.

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