*Coronavirus : BA Suspends all flts to mainland China* +discussion on long haul flts
Feb 21, 20, 12:41 am - Wikipost
|
|||
|
|||
|
Jan 20, 20, 5:31 pm
#1
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/DOH
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, QR Insider, SQ Gold, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 7,727
*Coronavirus : BA Suspends all flts to mainland China* +discussion on long haul flts
There are countless reports about the current coronavirus, and it's SARS like symptoms.
With an upcoming trip to Shanghai, I'm keeping tabs on the WHO and FCO advice.
Out of curiosity, what did BA do during the SARS outbreak a number of years ago? Did flights operate?
M
With an upcoming trip to Shanghai, I'm keeping tabs on the WHO and FCO advice.
Out of curiosity, what did BA do during the SARS outbreak a number of years ago? Did flights operate?
M
Jan 20, 20, 5:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 594
I will bow to others with better memories but I think flights ran uninterrupted.
'BA flights continue in spite of SARS'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...ticle-masthead
'BA flights continue in spite of SARS'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...ticle-masthead
Jan 20, 20, 6:49 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,008
I expect SARS is a more appropriate comparison, but, for what it’s worth, in relation to Ebola they did withdraw from the Freetown route. Brussels Aitlnes continued with much encouragement and I did wonder whether withdrawal was an easier commercial decision for BA to take, ie Freetown being a marginal route. They never restarted the service.
Jan 21, 20, 12:28 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 6,265
Just washing your hands or using an alcohol cleaning fluid (Minimum 60% ethanol) can be surprisingly effective. This is because you are constantly touching your face without realising it which helps transfer the virus from the many surfaces you touch to points of entry to your body.
If you are going to a region effective getting into the good habit of regularly washing your hands may be a good idea.
As might taking vitamin C and Zinc supplements which have some limited evidence to indicate it helps your immune system,
If you are going to a region effective getting into the good habit of regularly washing your hands may be a good idea.
As might taking vitamin C and Zinc supplements which have some limited evidence to indicate it helps your immune system,
Jan 21, 20, 3:10 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,363
Originally Posted by msm2000uk
Out of curiosity, what did BA do during the SARS outbreak a number of years ago? Did flights operate?
The Air China flights went from daily 747 to a few times a week on the A340, full outbound from China, empty ex-London.
Jan 21, 20, 3:16 am
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,502
I remember travelling to China in the height of the SARS outbreak. Some (non-travelling) family members were anxious about my trip, but I found it funny that on arrival the BA passengers were screened for fever because there had been more cases in the UK at that point and the Chinese authorities were worried about us being the risky people.
Mind you, being tested by a thing shaped somewhat like a gun being held to my temple by a goverment official did give me a momentary frisson.
Mind you, being tested by a thing shaped somewhat like a gun being held to my temple by a goverment official did give me a momentary frisson.
Jan 21, 20, 3:22 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 21,912
I flew from HKG to YYZ the week things got really bad. The most shocking thing was arriving in Canada and being met by people in masks, mandatory temperature checks and a general sense of fear. Hong Kong was extraordinary, day by day you could see the city getting quieter and quieter as people just stayed home.
The following month I flew DPS-SIN on SQ and had both the F and J cabins to myself 😮
SARS was before BA served Shanghai but I recall they kept frequencies to both HKG and PEK.
The following month I flew DPS-SIN on SQ and had both the F and J cabins to myself 😮
SARS was before BA served Shanghai but I recall they kept frequencies to both HKG and PEK.
Jan 21, 20, 4:19 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by Swanhunter
I flew from HKG to YYZ the week things got really bad. The most shocking thing was arriving in Canada and being met by people in masks, mandatory temperature checks and a general sense of fear. Hong Kong was extraordinary, day by day you could see the city getting quieter and quieter as people just stayed home.
The following month I flew DPS-SIN on SQ and had both the F and J cabins to myself 😮
SARS was before BA served Shanghai but I recall they kept frequencies to both HKG and PEK.
The following month I flew DPS-SIN on SQ and had both the F and J cabins to myself 😮
SARS was before BA served Shanghai but I recall they kept frequencies to both HKG and PEK.
Jan 21, 20, 4:23 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,363
Originally Posted by Swanhunter
Hong Kong was extraordinary, day by day you could see the city getting quieter and quieter as people just stayed home.
The following month I flew DPS-SIN on SQ and had both the F and J cabins to myself 😮
The following month I flew DPS-SIN on SQ and had both the F and J cabins to myself 😮
Jan 21, 20, 4:41 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC, Accor
Posts: 1,644
Currently in Qingdao, the Chinese Government are now taking this very seriously.
If any government in this world would have a fighting chance of controlling this outbreak my guess is that China has to be at the top of the list, they have the resources to do so, and appear to have the political will behind this. I am sure the big data machine is hard at work in China already trying to join the dots. It's really unfortunate that so many people in China are due to travel at this time of year and that will increase those risks. I guess we will all have to watch this space.
- First case of the virus has turned up in this city from someone who has visited Wuhan.
- Five hospitals in this city of 9 million people have been designated as being qualified to handle possible cases of infection.
- All leave over the spring festival for relevant qualified medical staff has been cancelled and they have to be within an hour or so of their medical base.
- All passengers on flights already being screened throughout the country. Action plan to put body temperature scanners in at train stations and other long distance hubs being implemented at high speed.
- Government are encouraging the population to take sensible precautions, wear face masks, drink more water, wash hands, etc.
- My friends here say that there is a slight uptick in the use of face masks so far but many people wear them usually at this time of the year especially in the north when it's cold.
If any government in this world would have a fighting chance of controlling this outbreak my guess is that China has to be at the top of the list, they have the resources to do so, and appear to have the political will behind this. I am sure the big data machine is hard at work in China already trying to join the dots. It's really unfortunate that so many people in China are due to travel at this time of year and that will increase those risks. I guess we will all have to watch this space.
Last edited by plunet; Jan 21, 20 at 4:46 am
Jan 21, 20, 4:46 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Beijing
Programs: SK EBD, BAEC GGL/CCR
Posts: 767
I was in Beijing for the SARS infection period - I certainly don't recall there being any change in the number of BA flights, though I wasn't flying BA much at that time to be honest so may not have noticed a minor reduction in service. Makes sense that according to shefgab they carried on to NRT to avoid crew staying in China.
msm2000uk If things do get worse and the trip is not work related, bear in mind also that there can be some good deals on MH and UL out of PVG.
msm2000uk If things do get worse and the trip is not work related, bear in mind also that there can be some good deals on MH and UL out of PVG.
Jan 21, 20, 4:54 am
#13
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Asia Miles. Not bothering to join Marco Polo.
Posts: 15,651
China Railway just declared refund waiver for Wuhan rail travel https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/cnnews/2...00952_001.html
But that's a long way before foreign carriers will cancel flights to PVG.
But that's a long way before foreign carriers will cancel flights to PVG.
