Airlines offer free Wuhan flight refunds

Passengers who booked flights to or from Wuhan in central China can ask for a free refund from airlines, the nation's civil aviation regulator said on Tuesday.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has asked airlines to reduce the risk of infection for both passengers and crew to prevent spread of the recent coronavirus outbreak.

A number of Chinese carriers are offering free refunds or changes to flights for flights to or from Wuhan, where 258 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection cases have been reported, including six deaths.

Air China, Shanghai-based Juneyao and Spring airlines as well as Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific are allowing refunds or changes to their Wuhan flights. Air China passengers can get a refund or change flights before March 29, while Juneyao allows refunds or changes for flights before February 29.

Other cities in Hubei Province, including Xiangyang, Yichang and Shiyan, are included in Juneyao's refund and change policies.

The airport in the provincial capital has installed machines at the terminal to measures passengers’ body temperature. People with a high temperature may not be allowed to leave.

Hainan, Sichuan, Tianjin, Capital and Guangxi Beibu Gulf airlines have announced to free refunds or flight changes for anyone tested with a fever at Wuhan airport.

Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon have allowed flight attendants to wear masks while serving passengers on flights to or from the city. The two airlines operate 11 flights to or from the capital each week. Staff are giving antiseptic wipes and masks to passengers at boarding gates.

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and other airports in neighboring Zhejiang Province have begun taking the temperatures of arrival passengers from Wuhan. Special boarding bridges and aprons have been allocated for all passenger aircraft from the city.