SARS sees flights scrapped

News.com.au April 07, 2003

CATHAY Pacific has cut back on its Melbourne to Hong Kong flights because of dramatically reduced passenger numbers during the SARS scare. Airline spokesman David Bell said the number of flights had been dropped from 11 to seven a week.

"All we know is passenger numbers have dropped quite dramatically on the route," he said.

"Certainly SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is having a major impact, but it is also possible there is some impact from the war on Iraq.

"It is difficult to know exactly which is which."