Several airlines have begun planning flights to China hoping that travel restrictions will soon begin to be eased. China, the origin of the virus outbreak, has restricted international passenger flights to its borders since March. Therefore, airlines were limited to flying just one flight a week to mainland China, according to TravelPulse
Airlines are counting on China lifting travel restrictions
While there has been no official announcement by Chinese authorities, airlines are hopeful. As the world begins to slowly reopen, notable airlines like Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines are expecting to resume their services to China. United Airlines has reportedly decided to “pencil in” a re-launch of service to Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. In an official memo to its employees, the airline said that “We continue to work out the feasibility of restarting passenger service to China.”
Further, Asiana Airlines from South Korea hopes to restart 12 routes to China in June. Asiana’s planned destinations include Beijing and Shanghai. Qatar Airways wants to serve Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai by the end of June. Local Turkish media has reported that Turkish Airlines plans to resume Shanghai in June and then add Beijing and Guangzhou in July.
