United Air to Reduce Flights to China After U.S. Warning on Virus

(Bloomberg) -- United Airlines Holdings Inc. will pare service to China due to “a significant decline in demand for travel” amid the outbreak of a virus that has claimed more than 100 lives.

Two dozen flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai will be suspended starting Feb. 1, United said in an email Tuesday. The plan includes flights from United’s hubs in Chicago, San Francisco, Washington and Newark, New Jersey, although some service to China will continue.

“We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed,” said United, which has the most capacity to China among U.S. airlines. The last of the 24 flights being halted will operate on Feb. 9.

U.S. health officials told travelers to avoid all non-essential trips to China, ramped up screening at airports and called for more cooperation from their Chinese counterparts as they rush to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Many companies have also counseled employees to avoid trips to China.

United gets about 7% of passenger revenue from China, said Savanthi Syth, an analyst at Raymond James.

--With assistance from Mary Schlangenstein.

To contact the reporter on this story: Justin Bachman in Dallas at jbachman2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Brendan Case at bcase4@bloomberg.net

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