The airline announced that its last outbound flight from London Heathrow to Shanghai would operate today and its final inbound flight will operate tomorrow, Saturday February 1.
The news comes as two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK and the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency.
“We continue to monitor the coronavirus situation very carefully and following the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a public health emergency of international concern, Virgin Atlantic has brought forward the suspension of Heathrow-Shanghai operations,” says a spokesperson for the airline.
“This decision has been made with the safety of customers and staff at the front of our minds. All passengers booked to travel should contact Virgin Atlantic to discuss their travel plans, with the option to receive a refund.”
British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France-KLM have also temporarily halted flights to and from China.
A repatriation flight from Wuhan to the UK is due to land at RAF Brize Norton today carrying 110 passengers, including 83 British nationals, who will face a fortnight in quarantine.
The Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to China.
