The Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopia Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam has said that the airline will continue its flight services to various cities in China despite the spread of Coronavirus (CODVID-19) in that country.
The CEO said “Travel ban is not internationally recommended precautionary measure to curb the spread of Coronavirus. WHO has advised that there is no need to impose a travel ban to/from China due to the outbreak. African Union’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has also advised that airlines should not stop flying to China. Accordingly, we have continued our flights to our Chinese destinations.”
The airline currently flies to five Chinese cities, namely, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. It operates a total of 35 weekly flights to China for most of the year.
Mr GebreMariam explained that the airline is currently following the World Health organization’s (WHO) recommendation to protect flight crew, employees and passengers from potential infection.
“We are following all WHO recommended precautions and collaborating actively with the Ministry of Health, Public Health Institute, and all stakeholders. We provide our crew with all the equipment they need to protect themselves and passengers from possible infection.”
“Even if Ethiopian stops flying to China, it doesn’t mean that our country will be free from the virus unless we make the right prevention. Some airlines have several daily flights to/from China to their hubs and from there they connect passengers daily to Addis Ababa and other destinations.”
“Chinese airlines are still flying to all parts of the world including Europe and the Middle East. They transfer Chinese and passengers of other nationalities from China to other airlines including ET who then transport the passengers to Addis Ababa and other African destinations. Cases have also been reported in countries whose carriers have suspended flights to/from China.”
Meanwhile, other airlines have suspended or modified their flight services to mainland China due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find the flights below:
– American Airlines – Extends suspension of China and Hong Kong flights through April 24
– Air France – Said on Feb.6 it would suspend flights to and from mainland China for much of March
– Air India – Suspends flights to Shanghai, Hong Kong until June 30- Air Seoul – The South Korean budget carrier suspended China flights from Jan. 28 until further notice.- Air Tanzania – Tanzania’s state-owned carrier, which had planned to begin charter flights to China in February, postponed its maiden flights.- Air […]
