United extended its travel waivers to northern Italy, making it easier for customers to cancel or change, and get refunded for flights. More than 400 coronavirus cases have locked down portions of that country. The airline flies from its hub at San Francisco International Airport to two affected cities, Milan and Venice, according to its website.
Flights aren’t canceled.
“At this time, we have no capacity changes to Italy to announce,” United said in a statement Thursday.
Even though flights are still operating, wary travelers to Italy and even unaffected countries are changing or canceling trips because of the rapidly evolving outbreak that is causing countries to clamp down on their borders.
United expanded its travel waivers to South Korea earlier this week as virus cases topped 1,700 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its highest level of travel advisory encouraging citizens to not visit the country. United already canceled its flights to China and Hong Kong through the end of April and saw a 75% decrease in near-term flight demand to the rest of Asia, the company reported Monday.
There are no direct flights to China from SFO from any airline for the next two months. The airport, its businesses, and the global airline industry will all be hurt.
United flights to Bologna, Genoa, Trieste, Turin and Verona are all eligible for the waivers, in addition to Venice and Milan. Flights to Rome are not eligible.
Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter:@mallorymoench
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