trying to get the companies to close them soon
to help stop the virus from spreading.
Volkswagen announced the closing of most
of its European plants for two weeks due to
uncertainty about demand for cars and supplies
of parts.
Airbus will suspend production at its French
and Spanish facilities to implement tougher
health and safety protocols, including more
rigorous sanitation and enforced distancing
between workers.
TRAVEL
Qantas, Australia’s largest airline, and Hong
Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways both cut
international passenger capacity by 90%.
Qantas’s cuts will last until the end of May,
Cathay Pacific’s apply in April.
Canada’s second largest airline is suspending all
commercial international and transborder flights
for a 30-day period as it helps operate rescue
and repatriation flights in partnership with
the Canadian government. Westjet says it will
suspend normal service on Sunday, March 22.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways cut its
flight schedule by 90% in April after passenger
traffic in February fell by more than half from a
year ago.
American Airlines on Monday suspended
about 75% of its long-haul international flights
and began grounding about 135 planes. It
will cut passenger-carrying capacity in the
U.S. by 20% in April and 30% in May. Airlines
are talking to unions about taking cuts in pay
or hours, and some are cutting executive and
management salaries.
Image: Peter Dejong