Bangkok - Passengers on some flights to
China will have to make do without hot meals or blankets and
newspapers, as airlines step up measures to protect crew and
travellers from a coronavirus that has killed more than 130 in
the country.
Seeking to contain the spread of the new virus by reducing
personal contact, Taiwan's China Airlines said it is
encouraging passengers to bring their own beverage bottles and
would limit re-usable items by replacing them with disposables.
The airline and its regional arm Mandarin Airlines have
stopped from Monday serving hot meals and replaced tablecloths
and napkins with paper towels on cross-strait and Hong Kong
flights. They also stopped providing blankets, pillows, towels,
magazines and newspapers, while beverages and disposable
headphones are supplied only on request.
"The seat back pocket will only contain the aircraft safety
card and sick bag," said Tigerair Taiwan, also a
member of China Airline group, adding duty-free sales are also
not available.
Thai Airways is spray-disinfecting passenger cabin
and cockpit on all flights returning from China and high-risk
destinations.
"Because we have in-flight entertainment which mean the LCD
screens are being touched all the time, so we deep cleanse every
flight before departure," an executive told a news conference on
Tuesday.
Its video showing staff in hazmat suits spraying down a
cabin garnered praise on social media for the flag carrier's
effort, although some were alarmed by it.
"Where are all the passengers on board? I think all the
passengers are supposed to be kept and be monitored for one
week," social media user John Honesty posted on Facebook.
"I suggest to stop all flight from China for at list 30 to
60 days. That will not kill the economy. The life of the public
is more important now than the so called economy."
Thailand, the top destination for China's holidaymakers, had
11 million Chinese visitors last year. But with 14 coronavirus
cases, it is the second-worst hit country outside of China.
Other airlines including Singapore Airlines and
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd are allowing
crew to wear masks on China flights, while American Airlines
provides hand sanitiser wipes for flight attendants to use on
all departures to China.
Some are taking even more drastic measures with flight
cancellations.
South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul said on Tuesday it
will halt all flights to China due to travellers' concerns about
the virus, while United Airlines Holdings Inc is
suspending 24 U.S. flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai
between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 due to a sharp drop in demand.