SYDNEY—Australia’s national airline, Qantas, said it would suspend flights to mainland China from Feb. 9 as the impact of the new coronavirus on world-wide travel spreads.
Major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc., said Friday they were suspending flights between the U.S. and mainland China, joining other international carriers, including British Airways and Indonesia’s Lion Air. Pakistan, a close Chinese ally, also banned commercial travel to the mainland on Friday. Italy on Thursday banned flights to mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The U.S. also imposed entry restrictions Friday on foreign nationals and quarantines on Americans returning from Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the coronavirus outbreak.
Qantas said it was suspending flights to the mainland as the virus’s spread hampers its ability to staff the Sydney-to-Beijing and Sydney-to-Shanghai routes.
“In selecting a date to suspend services Qantas is working to balance high passenger numbers in both directions—including Australian residents wanting to return home from China—with the various travel restrictions being applied,” the airline said in a statement Saturday. “Qantas is liaising closely with the Australian Government on the impact of these changes to citizens currently in mainland China, and continues to take advice from the World Health Organization and Australia’s Chief Medical Officer regarding the Coronavirus in its decision-making,” it added.
Australia’s main transportation workers’ union called on the government to immediately suspend all incoming flights from China to Australia.
“We welcome the move by Qantas to suspend direct flights into China, though we note it is for logistical reason[s] rather safety reasons. This issue is getting more serious by the hour and it requires a calm but definite response. The Federal Government must act immediately and end flights from China,” Transport Workers’ Union national secretary Michael Kaine said. “Our members including baggage handlers, ramp workers, cabin crew, caterers, cleaners and security personnel are concerned about the risks they are forced to endure.”
Entry restrictions imposed by countries including Singapore and the U.S. had impacted the movement of crew who work across the Qantas International network, the airline said.
The Australian carrier said its suspension will remain in place until March 29, and may be brought forward if the situation changes. There is no change to its services to Hong Kong.
American halted flights as of Friday. Delta and United said they would stop flights next week, to accommodate customers planning to leave China. The carriers expected to maintain the suspension through early spring.
Qantas had been due to end its Sydney-to-Beijing service on Feb. 23 for commercial reasons.
Write to Rachel Pannett at rachel.pannett@wsj.com
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