Passmethesickbag

With the third UK coronavirus patient having been infected in Singapore, it seems possible that the next destination BA pulls out of could be Singapore (it has more confirmed cases than Hong Kong, for example, within a smaller population). Are they likely to have a backup plan for this eventuality? I imagine that setting up another intermediate stop for an all-BA route for a short term wouldn't make sense for them, but would they be likely to rebook passengers via a Gulf airport?

jplondon

I am booked to take family for week to Singapore mid-Feb so may be biased, but think it's quite unlikely to happen. No flights coming in from China so would think Singapore should remain OK, but indeed interesting HK fewer. Curious to hear other people's view. Thanks!

DFB_london

not sure it makes sense to run through these scenarios yet. For all the media hype, unless Australia was to cut all flights it’s seems premature to take this concern further quite yet.

in the unlikely event (given what happened during SARS and mers), a reroute or reund is likely.

Passmethesickbag

Surely a refund option would be legally required, but I'd be more interested in whether BA would reroute on other carriers. But yes, I'd very very keen to know what happened during SARS.

flatlander

LHR-(BA)-BKK-(QF)-SYD
LHR-(BA)-KUL-(MH)-SYD
LHR-(QF)-PER-(QF)-SYD
etc

BA can keep it in the family.

If the coronapanic goes on much further, I can see the LHR-PER route becoming popular with a certain subset of people.

DFB_london

coronopanic will worsen before it gets better. But, airlines will consolidate services temporarily if it comes to that. Certainly no need to add worries about how the airlines will rationally manage this (which they do all the time for different shocks in the system) on top of the media panic.

So long as you are on one ticket, and not trying to do a questionable 40 minute back to back on different tickets before a big trip, then you’ll be accommodated one way or other. Let’s the airlines do the worrying for you.

flatlander

Yes, I more mean the panic of people wanting to avoid any part of Asia. When I see people asking (in other online fora) questions such as whether it is safe to travel to Costa Rica at the moment due to Wuhan coronavirus then I think they're over-reacting and not making a factual risk assessment.

subject2load

Always assuming they can find seats !

IIRC, Qantas reported last year that the non-stop service between PER and LHR had very quickly become the star performer of its entire international network, hitting average load factors as high as 94%.

LTN Phobia

I'd say it's unlikely BA will scrap SIN just because of one single case like this, when Singapore has quite a strict set of restrictions in place.

Edited to add: It's not a community spread of unknown origin. They know when and where it was caught (a conference). So it shouldn't be too alarming.

FlyerTalker39574

Is LHR-BLR-SYD unlikely?

aidy

I’d say so, as I’m not sure if BA has fifth freedom rights from India, like they do in SIN

Crampedin13A

Could they go through LAX as an add on perhaps?

Edit: Forgot about the Fifth Freedom thing.

FlyerTalker39574

So probably seriously affects viability.

LHR-HNL (BA) then
HNL-SYD (QF) or is LHR-HNL too long?

EuropeanPete

There’s always the JNB-SYD route...

geminidreams

You would think DXB or DOH are the obvious choices.