Air Canada plane - Dreamstime stock image

By Charles Lefebvre

Flights suspended

Air Canada suspends all flights to China in wake of coronavirus

Jan 29, 2020 | 2:04 PM

MONTREAL , QC — One of Canada’s largest airlines has announced it is suspending all flights to China in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus.

According to a news release sent Wednesday afternoon, Air Canada says they are temporarily suspending all direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai starting Thursday. The suspension will run until February 29.

The airline’s last flights departing Canada will operate today, and the return flights will operate from Beijing and Shanghai on Thursday.

“Affected customers will be notified and offered options, including travel on other carriers where available, or a full refund,” a statement from the company reads. “Air Canada regrets this situation and apologizes for the serious disruption to our customers’ travel plans.”

The decision comes after the Government of Canada issued an advisory to avoid non-essential travel to mainland China due to the ongoing outbreak. More than 5,000 people in China have been affected with the virus, with 133 reported deaths.

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Three cases have been reported in Canada so far. Two of the cases are in Ontario, while the third is in British Columbia. There have been no cases reported in Alberta.

Multiple airlines in Asia have also suspended flights to China due to the outbreak.

Air Canada operates direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The company says it continue to monitor this “evolving situation” closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada and Global Affairs.