Singapore Airlines cancels flights

Singapore Airlines has cancelled 15 flights into Christchurch and Wellington due to reduced demand resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.

Airlines around the world have been reducing and suspending services as the industry grapples with the effect of the virus, which has now been classified as a pandemic, on air travel.

The World Health Organisation said yesterday (New Zealand time) that there had been 4627 new Covid-19 cases and 280 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the global total to 118,326 confirmed cases and 4292 deaths.

World aviation body IATA estimates a coronavirus downturn could cost airlines up to US$113 billion (NZ$181 billion) globally as passenger demand falls, global supply chains fail and nations restrict border access in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

Airlines including Air New Zealand, Korean Air and China Southern have suspended routes to New Zealand and many other services have been drastically scaled back.

Singapore Airlines spokesman Karl Schubert said the airline had reduced its capacity on a number of routes.

In New Zealand, Singapore Airlines had cancelled eight flights between Christchurch and Singapore between April and June, as well as seven flights between Wellington and Singapore during the same period.

Singapore flies Christchurch to Singapore daily and Wellington to Melbourne five times a week. Both routes are serviced with Airbus A350s.

‘‘We will continue to monitor the situation, and be nimble and flexible in adjusting our capacity,’’ Schubert said.

Air New Zealand has suspended services from Auckland to Shanghai and South Korea and reduced services between Auckland and Samoa, Hong Kong, Fiji, Rarotonga, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Tonga.

Before the virus outbreak six airlines flew direct between New Zealand and five airports in China, with about 45 flights per week into Auckland. Today just two non-stop flights will arrive from China at Auckland Airport.