British Airways Suspends All Direct Flights To and From China Over Coronavirus Outbreak

The Foreign Office previously advised against "all but essential travel to mainland China" after the city of Wuhan became the epicentre of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak that claimed more than a hundred lives. The airline subsequently halted bookings of direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai.

British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China amid the spread of the new coronavirus that has been first detected in the city of Wuhan earlier this month.

"We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect, following advice from the (UK) Foreign Office against all but essential travel", BA said in a statement quoted by AFP.

The airline's website currently only offers indirect flights with layovers for January and February, while all direct flights are unavailable for purchase.

British airways/screenshot

© Photo : British airways/screenshot

Meanwhile, the UK will quarantine British citizens evacuated from Wuhan for two weeks.

We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan.

Public safety is the top priority.

Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all neccessary medical attention.

— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) January 29, 2020

​The previously unknown type of the virus was first detected in China's city of Wuhan in late December but later spread to other major cities. As of Wednesday morning, over 6,000 verified cases of the virus, and 132 related deaths have been confirmed in China, according to the country's National Health Commission. Apart from China, at least 15 other countries have reported cases of the virus.