There is some interesting reading in multiple other sources, not just mainstream media regarding the virus as well as air travel. Some airlines have completely cancelled flights to mainland China. Others have offered travel waivers on the routes they fly to the mainland. And others, like AC, seem to be offering some waivers on both mainland China and other Asian routes.

Cabin crews on non-Chinese and non-Asian airlines have demanded the ability to wear masks. In some cases, pax on flights lectured crews who weren't wearing masks (and it doesn't matter if anyone on this forum thinks masks matter). I am sure many pax on AC flights to PEK, PVG, HKG, TPE, NRT, HND and possibly elsewhere, are wearing masks when flying.

I would think that AC has a team closely monitoring the situation for their flights to PEK and PVG - both in Canada and on the ground at the outstations. I am sure some crews have opted out of those flights.

The situation with this virus is changing rapidly. Those at AC making the decisions on whether to offer waivers to pax, to allow crews to opt off the routes, or to cancel flights altogether, don't have an easy job as these are not easy decisions - both from a financial point of view as well as a public perception point of view.

Even if only a few countries are airlifting their diplomatic citizens out of parts of China, the public may look at this and wonder why AC is still flying pax from China to Canada.

It doesn't matter that some on this forum think travelling to Asia is reasonable travel choice. Lecturing others about whether the worries are rational or not, does not change the decision by AC to offer waivers, nor does it change the decision of some to change their travel or opt to not travel.

AC might never be the first out of the gate to offer waivers when there are major travel disruptions of any kind, but as long as they do, customers have the choice to change their plans. AC knows they have a large number of business and leisure travellers going between Canada and Asia - and that other choices are available. Sometimes, decisions are made that might seem over-precautionary, but they are beneficial to both the company and the customers in the long term.
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