United joins American, Delta in suspending China flights until late April

Dawn Gilbertson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump claims coronavirus "goes away in April with the heat" President Trump offered no scientific explanation after suggesting the deadly coronavirus may "go away in April."

United Airlines late Wednesday joined American and Delta in suspending flights to China and Hong Kong into late April as the coronavirus crisis continues to hurt demand.

The Chicago-based airline, which offered about 12 daily flights to the region before the outbreak began, said its flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, China, won't return until April 25.

Previously, United had suspended Hong Kong flights through Feb. 20 and flights to Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu until March 28.

American Airlines on Tuesday said it won't resume flights to mainland China and Hong Kong until late April, a month or two longer than previous plans depending on the route.

American, which offers flights between its Dallas and Los Angeles hubs and Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, said flights are now scheduled to resume on April 23 and April 24. The date varies by route.

Delta Air Lines was the first carrier to suspend its China flights until April 30. The airline does not serve Hong Kong.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths has continued to skyrocket since the three airlines made their announcements on Feb. 4. As of Wednesday evening, there are now 60,239 cases and 1,366 deaths worldwide, with all but 523 diagnoses and two deaths confined to mainland China. Hong Kong has had 50 cases and one death.

One bright note: Some 5,553 of the people diagnosed have since recovered, including 3 patients diagnosed in the United States.

Mere hours before the airlines first said they were halting all flights to China, The Seattle Times and Fox affiliate Q13 reported that the Snohomish County man who been hospitalized since shortly after flying home from Wuhan, China, on Jan. 15, had been discharged from the hospital.

Coronavirus halts all US air travel to China: Delta, American, United suspend all China mainland flights