January 31, 2020
There has been a mounting public uproar over KQ’s failure to suspend flights to China, in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, which has killed more than 130 people in China and spread across the world.
Kenya Airways has just issued a statement announcing the suspension of flights to Guangzhou, China over the coronavirus outbreak.
“Further to our prior communication regarding the current coronavirus outbreak, we have temporarily suspended all flights to and from Guangzhou, China from 31st, January 2020 until further notice,” KQ said in a statement.
There has been a mounting public uproar over KQ’s failure to suspend flights to China, in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, which has killed more than 130 people in China and spread across the world.
Kenya Airways had in an earlier statement ignored calls to suspend the flights and maintained that it’s been in consultation with the Ministry of Health to continue monitoring the coronavirus situation in China and is evaluating all options.
“We would like to assure our customers that we are evaluating all options and that we will communicate the best steps of action at the appropriate time”
KQ had also further stated that it has implemented additional precautionary measures to ensure that its staff and customers are safe and that Passengers from Wuhan and surrounding Districts would only be accepted in their flights after clearance by the Guangzhou health authorities.
Airlines Suspend some flights to China over Coronavirus
Major airlines have suspended some flights to China because of the coronavirus outbreak in an effort to protect their citizens from the coronavirus pandemic.
Air Tanzania announced that it was going to postpone its maiden flights to China, which was to take off next month.
Germany’s Lufthansa has also suspended Swiss and Austrian Airlines flights to and from China until Feb. 9.
British Airways also announced on Jan. 29 that it had suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China.
Air Canada and Air India have also suspended flights to china.
WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak Global Emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 170 people in China a global emergency, as cases spread to at least 18 countries.