Jan 29, 2020 - Science

British Airways suspends all flights to and from China over coronavirus

A British Airways Boeing 747 flies the Union Jack and Chinese flags upon its arrival at Beijing's Capital Airport, 05 September 2005.

A British Airways Boeing 747 at Beijing's Capital Airport. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China in response to the coronavirus, the airline confirmed in a statement to news outlets Wednesday morning.

Why it matters: It's the first major international carrier to suspend flights to China. No direct flights to China are currently available on BA.com, the airline's website, for January through February. "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority," the statement reads.

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