El Al has joined 16 international airlines canceling flights to China due to Corona • Cathay Pacific TA-Hong Kong line will continue to operate

• "Huge economic damage to China." Flights canceled due to Corona virus // Photo: IP

El Al joined the 16 international airlines that stopped flying to China this morning (Thursday). The company's flights to Beijing are suspended until March 25, and yesterday I will return as scheduled for the last flight from Beijing. EL AL flights to Hong Kong continue as usual.

EL AL will allow its customers holding airline tickets to China and Hong Kong until January 26, 2020, to cancel or change the flight date free of charge cancellation, change and handling fees by the end of February.

Empty streets: Panic of the Corona virus in China // Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific continues its operations in Israel, including continuously, with no cancellations due to the Corona virus. The only canceled flights are from Hong Kong to Wahan Province, as directed by authorities in China who have closed the area. The flights departing from Israel to Hong Kong this week were not fully occupied due to the Chinese New Year, and regardless of the virus.

During this period most of the businesses are on vacation and the factories are also disabled. Despite the panic, Cathay's occupancy of Hong Kong remained high and unchanged.

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It should be noted that Cathay Pacific works in accordance with all guidelines received from the relevant authorities in Israel and worldwide and will act accordingly. In contrast to Cathay Pacific, flights from Sichuan Airlines were halted earlier this week and yesterday, Chinese airline Hainan Airlines announced suspension of most of its international flights, including the Beijing-Tel Aviv line between February 3 and March 28.

World airlines, including the Chinese, which continue to fly to China, have begun to reduce the amount of international flights to China, mainly due to the sharp drop in demand for places on flights. Some of the lines were completely closed, with a promise to renew them within two weeks, hoping that the Corona crisis would be resolved by then.

"Huge economic damage to the Chinese"

In the United States, United Airlines has reduced the frequency of flights to Beijing from 12 flights a day, to just three or four flights. According to NBC News, all flights to China will be discontinued on February 1 and February 8. British Airways and Air Canada also canceled all flights to China except Hong Kong. Lufthansa's membership group operates in a similar way.

"This is a huge economic injury to the Chinese," said Ista Holiday's CEO Ronen Karso. "Each year, about 150,000 Israelis fly to Israel, most of them businessmen who import goods from China. Alongside them are also many travelers who have discovered the destination and even those who fly to the giant factories to furnish the house and privately import furniture including very cheap prices. "

The companies that continue to fly are taking steps to prevent the spread of the virus. For example, the AirWiz cell company fumigates every airplane coming from China to Thailand. China Airlines does not provide refreshments and drinks on short and long flights, and passengers are asked to wear protective masks during the flight. Companies like Cathay Pacific allowed air and ground crews to wear masks while handling passengers. Most companies serve flights to and from China in one-off meals, nor do they provide blankets or drinks in glasses, but only in personal bottles.