SIA to waive cancellation fees for passengers with tickets to, from Korea

While rebooking and rerouting is free in Scoot.

According to an OCBC report, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) gave global aviation industry a huge blow back in 2003. Today, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which is caused by a coronavirus from the same family as SARS, and first identified in 2012, is threatening to deal yet another blow to the aviation industry. 

There is currently no cure or vaccine for MERS, which has a fatality rate of around 35%, according to World Health Organization (WHO). Just this morning, South Korea reported four new cases of MERS, taking the total to 126 cases (with ten fatalities), and is also the country facing the largest outbreak outside of Saudi Arabia. Thousands are still in quarantine while the number of schools in South Korea closing rose to more than 2000, including 22 universities.

Here's more from OCBC:

Closer to home, Hong Kong also yesterday reported four suspected cases of MERS at clinics after it issued a “red alert” advisory (defined as significant threat) on 9 Jun against non-essential travel to South Korea. Within the Asia-Pacific region, other countries have only recommended travelers to take precautionary measures. 

We believe MERS will certainly affect the aviation industry, especially the airline businesses, given that MERS is both deadly and contagious. However, at the present moment, we think that the impact will still be very much localized at South Korea. Also, WHO has yet to recommend any curbs on travel or trade as a result of the MERS outbreak in South Korea.

According to an article by The Wall Street Journal, the South Korea government stated that about 54,400 foreign tourists (~7% of total foreign visitors over an equivalent period last year) had canceled their trips to South Korea as of 8 Jun, since MERS was first confirmed.

Even the CEO of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd made remarks stating a drop in bookings from Hong Kong to cities of South Korea in light of the outbreak. Back home, Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced 10 Jun that it will waive cancellation fees and administration fees for refunds, rebooking and rerouting for customers holding tickets on SIA’s flights to or from Seoul’s international airport. SIA’s fully owned Scoot will also allow passengers to rebook travel dates or reroute to other destinations free of charge, subject to payment of fare differences.