China travel ban extended as Qantas cuts Qld flights

With the China travel ban extended due to ongoing concerns over the coronavirus, the impact on Queensland businesses is growing by the day.

THE China travel ban to contain the Covid-19 coronavirus is expected to be extended for another week today, as airlines begin cutting flights to deal with the fallout.

Qantas yesterday revealed it was cutting a number of its flights to Asia, including from Brisbane, as well as domestic and New Zealand travel.

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The National Security Committee met last night, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison is today expected to announce the ban will be extended for another week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last night the China travel ban will be extended for at least another week.

It will see the travel ban having been in place for a month during what is traditionally one of the busiest periods for Chinese tourism to Australian.

Its economic impacts are already being felt, with Qantas announcing reduced flights and Brisbane’s Chinese Australian business community report significant falls in customers.

Mr Morrison said the ban would remain in place until at least February 29, but there were signs the spread of the virus was slowing in China outside of the epicentre at Hubei province.

“We will need to watch closely whether this positive trend continues as people return to work after the holidays,” he said.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the coronavirus was expected to cost the company up to $150 million, as he announced the airlines international arm was cutting one in six of its flights to Asia.

This includes cutting the Brisbane to Hong Kong route from seven return flights a week to four, as well as reducing the Jetstar Gold Coast to Tokyo and Cairns to Tokyo routes by two flights a week.

A five per cent reduction in trips to New Zealand and two per cent for domestic flights, including Brisbane to Sydney trips, was also announced.

Mr Joyce said as well as the suspension in flights to China, there were secondary impacts including weaker demand for travel to Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.

“We know demand into Asia will rebound. And we’ll be ready to ramp back up when it does,” he said.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said it was disappointing, but understandable.

“The best way Australians can support our tourism and hospitality businesses who are doing it tough and to save local jobs is to holiday here this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Queensland Chinese Forum honorary president Kee Cheung said some businesses in Chinatown and Sunnybank had reported their business had halved since the outbreak.

“I don’t know how much longer they can afford that situation,” he said.

Dr Cheung said there needed to be more education to let the public know the virus is not spreading in Chinese-Australian community

“People in the community should be alert, not alarmed. There’s absolutely no reason not to be going about your business as usual,” he said.