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Travelers forced to adjust as airlines cancel more flights because of coronavirus
Editor’s note: On Tuesday, March 3, North Carolina reported its first case of COVID-19, in a Wake County resident who was exposed at a Washington state long-term care facility. Find details on the case here.
Airlines are canceling flights to a growing number of places in response to the coronavirus and are trying to make it easier for travelers to cancel or re-book flights.
In addition to mainland China, where the coronavirus outbreak originated in January, carriers have suspended or reduced service to other Asian destinations, including South Korea, Singapore and Japan. And this weekend, Delta and American suspended nonstop flights to Milan in northern Italy, because of concerns about the growing number of coronavirus cases in the region.
Even airlines that don’t fly to Europe or Asia are reacting to coronavirus jitters. JetBlue is suspending change and cancellation fees for all customers who book between Feb. 27 and March 11 for flights taken by June 1. Alaska Airlines has a similar policy and announced Monday new procedures for cleaning its planes and waiting areas, at blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-airlines/coronavirus/.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends travelers avoid nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy as a result of the coronavirus. The CDC also recommends that older adults or those with chronic medical conditions consider postponing travel to Japan.
Here’s the latest from the major carriers that serve Raleigh-Durham International Airport:
▪ Delta Air Lines has suspended service between the U.S. and Beijing and Shanghai in China until April 30 and reduced service to Seoul, South Korea. On Sunday, Delta announced that it had suspended service between New York and Milan until May 1 and that its summer service between New York and Venice would start a month late, on May 1. For options on canceling or re-booking flights, go to www.delta.com/us/en/advisories/other-alerts/coronavirus-situation.
▪ American Airlines has suspended flights between its hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles and mainland China and Hong Kong through late April. On Saturday, the airline suspended flights between Milan and New York and Miami until April 25. For information on canceling or re-booking flights, go to www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/travel-alerts.jsp.
▪ United Airlines has suspended service to Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Shanghai through April 30 and has suspended some service to Tokyo Narita, Osaka, Singapore and Seoul. For information on canceling or re-booking flights, go to www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/notices.html.
▪ Air Canada has suspended nonstop flights between Canada and Beijing and Shanghai until April 10 and between Toronto and Hong Kong until April 30. For more information, go to www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/china-travel.html.
Low-cost carriers Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest and Spirit airlines did not mention coronavirus on their websites as of Monday.
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and their families who have been to China in the previous 14 days are allowed to enter the country through one of 11 U.S. airports, where they’re being screened for fever, cough and shortness of breath.
The CDC reports more than 46,000 travelers had been screened as of Feb. 23 and 11 were referred to a hospital and tested for coronavirus. Only one tested positive for the virus and was isolated and treated, the CDC said Feb. 25.
Foreign nationals who have visited China or Iran in the past 14 days are not being allowed into the U.S.
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