United Airlines and American Airlines said they would suspend flights to Hong Kong after the authorities there said that they would test all airline workers for the coronavirus starting on Wednesday.

Airline crew members were previously exempt from the mandatory deep-throat saliva tests that nearly everyone entering the Chinese territory must take. A cargo pilot tested positive for the virus last week.

United said in an emailed statement late Wednesday that flights to and from Hong Kong will be suspended “through July 10” because of “recent changes in testing protocol” at the city’s airport. Earlier this week, United said it planned to bring back services between Chicago and Hong Kong in September.

American Airlines, which has suspended flights to Hong Kong since the end of January, was set to restart services from Dallas to the city on Thursday. But the carrier has now pushed back the resumption of passenger services to early August. “We consider a range of factors including travel restrictions or entry requirements in making network decisions,” the airline said late Wednesday.

Alex

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