MALAYSIA Airlines is reviewing demand and adjusting flight capacity following the Covid-19 outbreak.

“We believe the effect is temporary and there is minimal softening to the demand,” the airline’s spokesperson told The Malaysian Insight.

On flights to the UK, the spokesperson said the carrier’s schedule remains intact and continues to fly there twice daily.

“The reduction is marginal as we continue to fly twice daily throughout, with only a few cancellations of bookings.

“Beyond that, our schedule remains intact.”

The Edge earlier this week reported that the airline saw sales cancellations of between 20% and 30% for flights between China and Malaysia, which it had scheduled up to February 29.

This came on the heels of China’s suspension of overseas tour groups flight and hotel packages for its citizens on January 26 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) recently said the Covid-19 outbreak could lead to a US$5 billion (RM20.7 billion) reduction in worldwide airline revenue.

The United Nations agency reported that 70 airlines have cancelled all international flights in and out of China, and 50 others have reduced operations.

According to preliminary estimates, this is a reduction of nearly 20 million passengers compared to expectations for the first quarter of 2020.

“Prior to the outbreak, airlines had planned to increase capacity by 9% on international routes to/from China for the first quarter of 2020 compared with 2019,” said Icao in a statement.

The reality has been a reduction in foreign airline traveller capacity of 80%. – February 16, 2020.