3 main US airlines suspend flights between US and China over coronavirus

Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines announced Friday that they are suspending flights between the United States and China due to the spread of the coronavirus. 

Delta’s suspension of flights will begin on Feb. 6 and last through April 30. The airline said it is not suspending flights right away in order to allow people a chance to leave China before the suspension begins. 

“Delta has decided to temporarily suspend all U.S. to China flying beginning Feb. 6 through April 30 due to ongoing concerns related to the coronavirus,” the airline said. “Between now and Feb. 5, Delta will continue to operate flights to ensure customers looking to exit China have options to do so.”

Meanwhile, American said it would immediately suspend flights to and from China until March 27, according to a statement.

“American is suspending its operations to and from the Chinese mainland beginning today through March 27,” the statement noted. “We will continue to evaluate the schedule for March 28 and beyond and make any adjustments as necessary.”

The pilots union for American on Thursday sued the airline because of the “serious, and in many ways still unknown, health threats posed by the coronavirus.”

United said it was suspending flights between the U.S. and Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai from Feb. 6 to March 28, according to CNN Business.

The flight suspensions come as the virus continues to spread. The World Health Organization on Thursday called it a public health emergency of international concern. 

The State Department on Thursday night also warned Americans not to travel to China because of the virus. 

Updated at 1:44 p.m.