White House Considering China Flight Ban as Airlines Suspend Service

Image: PHOTO: United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (photo via Mateusz Atroszko/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:24 AM ET, Wed January 29, 2020

Update: January 30, 2020 at 2:20 p.m. ET

United Airlines is extending its China flight cancellations through March amid the coronavirus outbreak, the carrier confirmed on Thursday.

"As the significant decline in demand for travel to China continues, we are implementing a second phase of temporary reductions in service between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai," United said in a statement to Fox News.

The second phase of cancellations includes 332 additional roundtrip cancellations from February 9 through March 28. United will have only four daily departures to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong from its U.S. hubs, down from 12. Affected U.S. hubs include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago O'Hare, Newark and Washington Dulles.

"We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed," the airline added.

The U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 travel advisory for China on Wednesday, encouraging Americans to reconsider travel to the country due to the coronavirus outbreak and avoid the Hubei Province altogether.

Update: January 30, 2020 at 7:45 a.m. ET

Delta Air Lines announced Wednesday it is the latest U.S. carrier to temporarily reduce the number of weekly flights to and from China due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The airline currently operates 42 weekly flights between the U.S. and China, but starting on February 1 and running through April 30, Delta will reduce this schedule to approximately 21 weekly flights.

Travelers who purchased tickets for the canceled flights will be contacted by Delta team members and accommodated on alternate flights.

Update: January 29, 2020 at 1:45 p.m. ET

Following in the footsteps of other carriers around the world, American Airlines has temporarily suspended flights between Los Angeles International Airport and Shanghai Pudong Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport through March 27.

Officials from American said a "significant decline in demand" for travel to China following the coronavirus outbreak has resulted in the decision to suspend flights. Passengers impacted by the cancellations are being contacted by the airline.

The carrier also revealed it would still operate service from LAX to Hong Kong, and from Dallas/Forth Worth to both Beijing and Shanghai.

United States President Donald Trump and his administration are reportedly considering suspending flights to and from China as a result of the growing coronavirus outbreak.

According to CNBC.com, White House officials reached out to airlines based in the U.S. to inform them the administration was considering a temporary flight ban as China continues to deal with a rising death total and thousands of sick citizens.

While Trump and his team are considering suspending flights, the decision has not yet been made and is not guaranteed. A source told CNBC officials are "constantly evaluating the situation."

The White House is considering all options to contain the fast-spreading virus and avoid an outbreak in America, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanding its China travel warning Tuesday.

Airlines across the U.S. started issuing travel advisories, waiving change fees and offering refunds for Chinese destinations last week, while airports stepped up their medical screening processes for travelers arriving from impacted regions.

As the outbreak continues to get worse, carriers around the world are suspending or reducing service to China.

British Airways announced Wednesday it would no longer fly to or from China, joining Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, Indonesia's Lion Air, South Korea's Air Seoul, Finland's Finnair, Air Canada and Singapore's Jetstar Air in altering service to the country.

In the U.S., United Airlines announced Tuesday it would cancel "dozens of flights" next month to Hong Kong and mainland China as the outbreak continues. United offers more service to Hong Kong and China than any other U.S.-based carrier.

In total, the coronavirus outbreak in China killed at least 106 people and infected about 4,700 more around the world.

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