S.Korea's T'Way Air halts launch of Wuhan flights over virus concerns (updated)

Trinity Airways Co

21/01/2020 12:40

(Adds Korean Air, government comment in paragraphs 6-8)
    By Hyonhee Shin
    SEOUL, Jan 21 (Reuters) - South Korean budget airline T'way
Air  091810.KS  has postponed Tuesday's scheduled launch of a
new route to the Chinese city of Wuhan because of rising concern
over the spread of a new coronavirus, a company official said. 
    On Monday South Korea reported its first confirmed case of
the virus from a 35-year-old Chinese national who flew from
Wuhan to Seoul on Sunday.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N29P15L 
    T'way had been set for the first of its twice-a-week flights
 from the South Korean main hub of Incheon to Wuhan at 1020 p.m.
(1320 GMT) but cancelled its plans because of the outbreak, the
company official said. 
    "It was an inevitable decision because of the situation
there," the official told Reuters, adding that it would continue
to monitor developments.
    The move came amid spiralling fears over the virus, which
could be spread through human contact, with millions of Asians
travelling for the Lunar New Year holiday this week. In China,
the number of confirmed cases rose to 291 on Monday.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N29Q1BZ 
    An official at Korean Air Lines  003490.KS , the only other
South Korean airline operating direct flights to Wuhan, said the
company had no plans to suspend its route, which operates four
times a week, but will waive ticket cancellation fees for
passengers travelling to the city. 
    South Korea's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on
Tuesday warned tourists against contact with animals and people
showing respiratory symptoms and market visits in China. 
    President Moon Jae-in instructed local authorities to step
up prevention efforts, with many South Koreans living in China
expected to return home and some 32 million travelling around
the country for the holiday until next week.

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China coronavirus claims sixth victim as holiday travel
heightens infection risks     ID:nL4N29Q1BZ 
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 (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin
Editing by David Goodman and Louise Heavens)
 ((hyonhee.shin@thomsonreuters.com; 822 6936 1474;))