Anonymous ID: f53a2b Jan. 28, 2020, 2:44 p.m. No.7946101   ๐Ÿ—„๏ธ.is ๐Ÿ”—kun

Airlines cut China flights as companies restrict travel on virus fears

 

Airlines including United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL.O) said they were canceling some flights to China as demand fell sharply and global companies told their employees not to travel on deepening fears over the spread of a flu-like virus. The coronavirus that originated in the city of Wuhan has killed 106 people in China and spread across the world, rattling financial markets.

 

The United States warned that Americans should reconsider visiting China, while Britain advised against all but essential travel to mainland China. South Korea also advised its citizens to stay away.

 

Facebook (FB.O) became the first major U.S. company to announce a travel suspension after the U.S. governmentโ€™s warning, saying it had asked employees to halt non-essential travel to mainland China and to work from home if they had traveled there.

 

Chicago-based United said it was suspending 24 U.S. flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 due to a significant drop in demand.

 

Europeโ€™s biggest bank, HSBC (HSBA.L), banned all staff travel to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong for two weeks and to mainland China until further notice, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.

 

The British-based lender, which has the largest presence among foreign banks in China, also asked staff who have recently visited the country to undergo a self-imposed 14-day quarantine. The virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days.

 

U.S. rival Goldman Sachs (GS.N) imposed similar measures, according to a memo seen by Reuters.

 

In South Korea, home appliances maker LG Electronics Inc (066570.KS) put a complete ban on travel to China and has advised employees on business trips in the country to return home as quickly as possible, a company spokeswoman said.

 

South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc (000660.KS) said it was urging employees to avoid all non-essential travel to China, while banking group Standard Chartered (STAN.L) restricted travel to both mainland China and Hong Kong.

 

In Germany, auto supplier Webasto, which has 11 sites in China, including in Wuhan, has halted all corporate travel to and from China after an employee was infected.

 

Japanโ€™s Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) said it recommended employees avoid travel to China, while Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) said it plans to evacuate its Japanese staff and their families in Wuhan via a government-chartered flight.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-business/airlines-cut-china-flights-as-companies-restrict-travel-on-virus-fears-idUSKBN1ZR0DG