Coronavirus: Air Canada cancels select flights to China

Air Canada will cancel select flights to China amid the ongoing spread of illness in the country caused by the novel coronavirus.

In a statement to PAX, Air Canada said that select flights to China will be cancelled “to better match capacity with expected demand.”

The airline did not clarify which routes would be affected by the cancellations.

READ MORE: Coronavirus screening continues as second case confirmed in Canada

While Air Canada currently operates 33 flights a week to China, the carrier stated that “the resulting capacity reduction is relatively small,” and that it will “continue to monitor the situation closely and will adjust accordingly.”

Affected customer will be notified and provided with alternate travel options, Air Canada said.

Air Canada has also extended its goodwill policy for flight rebookings on flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan, the city in which the coronavirus outbreak originated in December; currently, there is no direct service to Wuhan from Canada on any airline.

As of today (Jan. 29), the virus has resulted in 132 confirmed deaths in China, with more than 80 confirmed cases (but no deaths) outside of the country, including two in Toronto; a BC man is presumed to have also been infected with the virus.

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