Airlines halt China flights as virus toll hits 132

British Airways, Cathay Pacific, others suspend flights to and from China

WUHAN: Foreign airlines began suspending flights to and from China on Wednesday as global fears mounted over a coronavirus epidemic that has killed 132 people and infected nearly 6,000.

The announcements came hours after countries began airlifts to evacuate foreigners trapped in Wuhan, the quarantined central Chinese city of 11 million people at the epicentre of the health emergency.

A growing number of governments, including the United States, Britain and Germany, have in recent days advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China over concerns about the viral outbreak.

China has urged its citizens to delay trips abroad, with at least 15 countries have confirmed cases of the disease.

British Airways (BA) was the first major airline to announce a total suspension of flights to and from China, citing the travel advice of the foreign office.

"We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority," BA said in a statement on Wednesday.

Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Southeast Asia's biggest carrier by fleet size, then said it would halt services to and from China from Saturday "until further notice".

In Myanmar, the three airlines that have routes into neighbouring China also said those flights would also be suspended from Saturday.

Cathay Pacific also cut flights, citing low demand and the Hong Kong government's response plan against the virus.

However, many other airlines said they were continuing their China services.

China has taken other extraordinary measures to try and stop the disease spreading, including bans on tour groups traveling overseas, suspending schools and extending the Lunar New Year holiday.

Authorities also last week imposed transport bans in and around Wuhan in an unprecedented quarantine effort, leaving more than 50 million people shuttered in their homes.

Other countries were planning more stringent quarantine measures, with Australia to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan and temporarily house them on an island normally used to detain asylum seekers.

France said it would keep its returnees in a holding facility in Paris for 14 days -- the estimated incubation period for the virus.

The number of confirmed cases across the country climbed to 5,974, while the death toll nationwide jumped 26 to 132.

The US asked China on Tuesday to step up its cooperation with international health authorities over the epidemic.

Washington had offered China assistance three times so far without success, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters.

The virus has rattled global markets and started to dent an already-slowing Chinese economy.

Japanese automaker Toyota said on Wednesday it would keep its plants in China closed until at least February 9 in part due to government guidelines.

Global coffee chain Starbucks said it expected significant earnings hit after closing more than half of its stores across China.