Low Demand Because Of Swine Flu Scare Forces Three Large US Airlines To Cut Mexico Flights

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Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Public Health;  Flu / Cold / SARS;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 02 May 2009 - 9:00 PDT

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To add to the list of European airlines that have stopped flying people to Mexico, US Airways, Continental Airlines and United Airlines announced they are temporarily stopping some flights to Mexico. The airlines say this is due to a significant drop in demand.

• 38% of U.S. Airways flights to Mexican destinations will be dropped between May 10 and July 1.


• 60% of United Airlines flights to Mexico will be cut. This means only 24 flights a week will continue. United says this will increase to 52 flights per week in June.


• 40% of Continental flights will be cut. The airline says that capacity will also drop (maximum possible number of passengers in each flight). Continental flies more people in and out of Mexico than any other airline in the world. Continental usually has approximately 450 flights per week to Mexico.

The three US airlines have joined several others, including Air Canada, First Choice (UK), Monarch (UK), Thompson (UK), Thomas Cook (UK), Air Europa (Spain) in cutting flights to Mexico.

All airlines stress that this is a temporary measure, and after closely watching the situation, flights will resume to normal as soon as possible.

Several airlines that continue having flights into Mexico are adding a doctor to each plane. The aim is to better detect potential cases of swine flu.

Experts have indicated today that the current swine flu virus is a mild one. However, if it spreads and more people catch it there is a greater chance of a mutation. A mutation can occur if the swine flu virus (more appropriately known as the North American Flu virus) infects a person who is already infected with a normal seasonal human flu virus. It would then have the opportunity to exchange genetic material with that virus, creating a new virus - a mutated one.

• See our Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
• See our Mexico Swine Flu Blog

Written by - Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today