China Airlines, Taiwan’s flagship carrier, had cancelled the flights from February through April, with the firm’s human resources department citing how the virus has had an “avalanche effect” on its finances, in an open letter to employees early this month.
The airline requested in its letter that its more than 10,000 workers go on a leave of absence or take compensatory or special leave. China Airlines forecasts that it will take a longer time to make up losses than it had experienced during other epidemics, including SARs in 2003.