US carriers are suspending or reducing services to South Korea after a spike in COVID-19 virus cases affected demand.
There are now more than 80,000 cases of the coronavirus worldwide with more than 2700 deaths and new cases are appearing worldwide.
South Korea is on alert after cases topped 1200, including a US soldier, with at least 12 dead.
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The World Health Organization has said it is too early to declare COVID-19 a pandemic but some health experts see some further spread of the disease as inevitable.
Hawaiian Airlines announced it was suspending flights between Honolulu and Seoul’s Incheon International Airport from March 2 to April 30 due to the increase in cases.
It offering to re-accommodate passengers affected by the move on alternative flights or provide them with a refund.
There is also a travel waiver for passengers holding tickets on Hawaiian Air codeshare flights departing to or from and connecting via South Korean airports.
“We believe a temporary service suspension is prudent given the escalation of COVID-19 in South Korea and the impact the illness has had on demand for leisure travel from that country,” Hawaiian chief executive Peter Ingram said.
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and extend our support for public health efforts to contain the virus. We apologize for this inconvenience and are working to support impacted guests.”
Delta, which has a stake in Korean Air, announced it was temporarily reducing flights between the US and South Korea due to the outbreak.
It is suspending services between Minneapolis-St Paul and Incheon between February 29 and April 30.
Delta will also reduce to five times weekly its services between Incheon and Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle through April 30.
And the airline’s new service from Incheon to Manila, previously scheduled to begin March 29, will now start on May 1.
“The health and safety of customers and employees is Delta’s top priority and the airline has put in place a number of processes and mitigation strategies to respond to the growing concern,’’ it said.
“Delta remains in constant contact with the foremost communicable disease experts at the CDC, WHO and local health officials to respond to the coronavirus as well as ensure training, policies, procedures and cabin cleaning and disinfection measures meet and exceed guidelines.”
Delta is also offering to re-accommodate and refund passengers.
Delta, American and United have all introduced fee waivers for customers wanting to change their travel plans to South Korea.
Meanwhile, Europe’s Lufthansa Group has adopted a series of measures to counteract the economic impact of the virus that include a hiring freeze, unpaid leave and expansion of part-time work options.
The airline is suspending flight attendant and station personnel training courses from April and says participants in courses already in progress will not be hired at this stage.
“In the administrative areas, the core brand Lufthansa will reduce its project volume by ten percent and the budget for material costs by 20 percent,” the group said.
Lufthansa airlines have suspended flights to and from mainland China until March 28 and adjusted capacity to Hong kong.
“In purely mathematical terms, 13 Lufthansa Group aircraft are currently on the ground,” the group said.
“It is not yet possible to estimate the expected impact of the current developments on earnings.”
