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Coronavirus forces more Lufthansa Group flight cuts

Lufthansa Group has extended the suspension of flights to mainland China until after Easter due to coronavirus.

No services will run from Germany, Switzerland, Austria to China by Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines until April 24.

Frequencies will also be cut to Hong Kong, Seoul and northern Italy.

Flights to Tehran will remain suspended until April 30.

Frequencies on German domestic routes from Frankfurt to Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Paderborn and from Munich to Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bremen and Hanover will be reduced.

“The availability of short- and medium-haul flights may be reduced by up to 25% in the coming weeks depending on further developments in the spread of the coronavirus,” the German airline group warned.

“Lufthansa Group airlines are also continuing to reduce their long-haul flight programme. The number of long-haul aircraft not in operation will increase from 13 to up to 23.”

Further cost reductions in the personnel area as well as for material costs and project budgets have also been announced.

“It is not yet possible to estimate the expected impact on earnings from current developments,” the company said ahead of issuing key financial figures at its annual press conference on March 19.

The latest cutbacks follow a “thorough assessment of all currently available information on the coronavirus”.

Austrian Airlines is reducing its flight program to Italy in March and April by 40% including frequencies on routes from Vienna to Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples.

Eurowings is trimming flights to and from Venice, Bologna and Milan until March 8. Flights to other destinations in Italy are currently not affected.

Brussels Airlines is cutting flights to Rome, Milan, Venice and Bologna by 30% until March 14.

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