Coronavirus: Delta suspends Atlanta-Rome flights

As the coronavirus spreads, Delta Air Lines is suspending its Atlanta to Rome flights.

Atlanta-based Delta had already reduced its Atlanta to Rome route to fewer flights per week and suspended some other services to Italy.

The airline says it will now suspend the Atlanta to Rome route from March 11 through April 30 due to the continued spread of COVID-19, or the coronavirus.

Its normal spring flight schedule from Atlanta to Rome is five flights a week in March and daily flights in April.

The only remaining Delta flights to Italy until April 30 will be New York to Rome flights.

The airline said passengers whose flights are affected can rebook on alternate flights, get refunds or contact Delta to discuss other options.

Delta is also extending its suspension of flights between New York and Milan until May 20. The last Delta flight from Milan to New York operated March 3.

Other cuts  include  delaying  the launch of summer season flights, which typically begin April 1, from from Detroit to Rome until May 1 and from New York to Venice until May 21.

There have been more than 5,800 cases of COVID-19 reported in Italy. A number of towns in northern Italy have been put under quarantine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising travelers to avoid non-essential travel to Italy.

The Trump Administration has raised its travel warning to “do not travel” to the regions in South Korea and Italy most affected by coronavirus.

For Italy, the State Department issued a do not travel advisory for Lombardy, where Milan is the capital, and Veneto.

Passengers coming to the United States from Italy and South Korea are being screened.

On Monday evening, the Italian government said it would impose travel restrictions throughout Italy starting Tuesday.

Delta waived change fees for bookings to Italy, China and South Korea before announcing it was suspending flights to China and reducing flights to Korea and Italy.

A change fee waiver allows travelers to avoid flying to areas with coronavirus outbreaks or avoid the risk that the airline may cancel the flights.

Delta  travelers with flights booked to Italy Feb. 25 through May 31 can reschedule flights without paying a change fee. The airline broadened the policy to all flights to, from or through Italy from a previous change fee waiver for Bologna, Milan and Venice through March 2.