Online | Posted : 2015-06-04 16:15
Updated : 2015-06-04 18:10
Asiana Airlines workers sterilize seats, overhead bins and the floor of an aircraft at Incheon International Airport, Thursday. The carrier will conduct sterilization work on all 74 of its airplanes in an effort to prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. / Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-sik
Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and other carriers are on high alert over the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) here, taking all possible steps to quell growing safety concerns among air travelers.
They are worried that the highly infectious flu-like virus might reduce travel demand during the coming summer holiday season, saying some Korean and non-Korean passengers are beginning to cancel flights.
Korean Air said Thursday that it is preventing passengers showing MERS symptoms, such as a high fever, from boarding its planes. The country's largest carrier is the only airline flying to the Middle East. It operates non-stop routes to Dubai and Riyadh.
"We are screening all passengers at the gates before they board planes," a Korean Air spokesman said. "If a passenger shows MERS symptoms onboard, he or she is immediately isolated from others and has to wear a mask and gloves during the flight. When the plane lands, the suspected passenger has to report to the quarantine authorities and undergo necessary medical procedures."
Korean Air has also decided to disinfect its airplanes more often, he said, adding that the planes flying from the Middle East are subject to more thorough disinfection. The company is educating cabin crews about how to deal with possible MERS patents in flight.
"We are monitoring the situation very closely," the spokesman said. "It is a good thing that the number of people canceling flights has not jumped much. But we will continue to remain vigilant and take all necessary measures to best serve our customers."
Asiana Airlines also said it has been banning those who show MERS symptoms and who recently traveled to the Middle East from boarding its planes.
"We have disinfected all our 74 planes thoroughly as a precaution to ensure passenger safety," an Asiana Airline spokesman said. "We are using a disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency as an effective chemical to kill MERs and other viruses."
He expressed concern that an increasing number of travelers, Korean and non-Korean, were canceling ticket reservations.
"If MERS continues to spread and infect more people, this will certainly dampen the upcoming travel boom in July and August," the spokesman said. "We really need the quarantine authorities to take effective measures to contain the virus."
Jeju Air, Korea's largest low-cost carrier, has also been disinfecting its planes more often.
"We are operating a taskforce team to deal with the MERS outbreak," a Jeju Air spokeswoman said. "We check all passengers before they board and urge those suffering from flu-like symptoms to be tested whether they are infected with the MERS or not.
"Many have asked us about flight cancelations, but so far only a few have done so. In particular, we are getting lots of inquiries from Chinese and foreign tourists about whether it is safe to come to Korea."
A Chinese passenger who had a high fever on a Jeju Air flight from Incheon to Weihai on Wednesday tested negative to MERS, the carrier said.
Jin Air, a low-cost unit of Korean Air, also said it has been banning passengers suspected of MERS from boarding its airplanes.
leehs@koreatimes.co.kr
Asiana Airlines workers sterilize seats, overhead bins and the floor of an aircraft at Incheon International Airport, Thursday. The carrier will conduct sterilization work on all 74 of its airplanes in an effort to prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. / Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-sik
Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and other carriers are on high alert over the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) here, taking all possible steps to quell growing safety concerns among air travelers.
They are worried that the highly infectious flu-like virus might reduce travel demand during the coming summer holiday season, saying some Korean and non-Korean passengers are beginning to cancel flights.
Korean Air said Thursday that it is preventing passengers showing MERS symptoms, such as a high fever, from boarding its planes. The country's largest carrier is the only airline flying to the Middle East. It operates non-stop routes to Dubai and Riyadh.
"We are screening all passengers at the gates before they board planes," a Korean Air spokesman said. "If a passenger shows MERS symptoms onboard, he or she is immediately isolated from others and has to wear a mask and gloves during the flight. When the plane lands, the suspected passenger has to report to the quarantine authorities and undergo necessary medical procedures."
Korean Air has also decided to disinfect its airplanes more often, he said, adding that the planes flying from the Middle East are subject to more thorough disinfection. The company is educating cabin crews about how to deal with possible MERS patents in flight.
"We are monitoring the situation very closely," the spokesman said. "It is a good thing that the number of people canceling flights has not jumped much. But we will continue to remain vigilant and take all necessary measures to best serve our customers."
Asiana Airlines also said it has been banning those who show MERS symptoms and who recently traveled to the Middle East from boarding its planes.
"We have disinfected all our 74 planes thoroughly as a precaution to ensure passenger safety," an Asiana Airline spokesman said. "We are using a disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency as an effective chemical to kill MERs and other viruses."
He expressed concern that an increasing number of travelers, Korean and non-Korean, were canceling ticket reservations.
"If MERS continues to spread and infect more people, this will certainly dampen the upcoming travel boom in July and August," the spokesman said. "We really need the quarantine authorities to take effective measures to contain the virus."
Jeju Air, Korea's largest low-cost carrier, has also been disinfecting its planes more often.
"We are operating a taskforce team to deal with the MERS outbreak," a Jeju Air spokeswoman said. "We check all passengers before they board and urge those suffering from flu-like symptoms to be tested whether they are infected with the MERS or not.
"Many have asked us about flight cancelations, but so far only a few have done so. In particular, we are getting lots of inquiries from Chinese and foreign tourists about whether it is safe to come to Korea."
A Chinese passenger who had a high fever on a Jeju Air flight from Incheon to Weihai on Wednesday tested negative to MERS, the carrier said.
Jin Air, a low-cost unit of Korean Air, also said it has been banning passengers suspected of MERS from boarding its airplanes.
leehs@koreatimes.co.kr
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