Chinese Airlines Cut Flights To South Korea After MERS Outbreak

BEIJING, June 15 (Bernama) -- Several Chinese airlines are temporarily reducing flights to South Korea following the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The national airline, Air China would reduce the number of flights from Beijing to Seoul from 24 weekly to 21 beginning June 13 till end of August, Xinhua news agency reported. Another major airline, China Eastern Airlines would cut the number of its Kunming-Seoul flights from five to two weekly from June 15 to June 30, and the number of flights would be adjusted to three from July 1 to the end of August, the news agency said. Other companies including China Southern Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Capital Airlines and budget carrier Spring Airlines are also reported either to have cut or suspended flights to South Korea. The death toll from MERS in South Korea rose to 16 on Monday since the first case was confirmed on May 20. A total of 150 people have contracted the virus. Last year, Chinese tourist arrivals in South Korea was recorded at 6.1 million, making South Korea exceed Thailand and Japan to become the most popular destination for Chinese travellers. --BERNAMA