European airlines are reducing flights to Italy due to coronavirus as part of drastic cost-cutting in an industry rocked by fallout from the deadly outbreak. Big global carriers had already cancelled flights to China - including Air Canada, Air France-KLM, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Finnair, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
But worldwide panic intensified this week over the rapidly-spreading coronavirus or COVID-19, which has killed more than 2,800 people and infected more than 83,000 worldwide - the vast majority in China - and which is now hitting Italy the hardest in Europe.
Britain's low-cost carrier EasyJet on Friday announced it would axe 500 flights to Italy due in March, alongside plans for freezes on hiring and pay. Other airlines implementing some Italy route cutbacks include Air France, British Airways owner IAG, Belgium's Brussels Airlines and Hungary's Wizz Air.
"Following the increased incidence of COVID-19 cases in northern Italy, we have seen a significant softening of demand and load factors into and out of our northern Italian bases," EasyJet said. "We are also seeing some slower demand across our other European markets. As a result we will be making decisions to cancel some flights, particularly those into and out of Italy."
IAG added it would trim its Italy flights due next month, warning also that its earnings outlook had been "adversely affected". International Airlines Group, which owns also Ireland's Aer Lingus and Spain's Iberia, added: "Capacity on Italian routes for March has been significantly reduced through a combination of cancellations and change of aircraft gauge and further capacity reductions will be activated over the coming days.
"We also expect to make some capacity reductions across our wider shorthaul network." Brussels Airlines said it had experienced a "negative booking trend", with flights to northern Italy the worst affected.
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