United Airlines is suspending non-stop flights between Chicago and Hong Kong.
United Airlines is suspending its daily flight service from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Hong Kong following massive protests that have discouraged potential visitors.
The airline, which has flown the route since 1996, blamed a reduction in demand.
“While our service between the United States and HKG (Hong Kong) remains a vital part of our network, we have decided to suspend service between ORD (Chicago) and HKG after the return flight from HKG on Sept. 9, 2019,” the company said in a statement.
According to reports, the airline was losing money on the route before the protests began.
However, that loss has increased dramatically since June when protesters first took the streets.
The Hong Kong protests were sparked by the now-shelved extradition bill which would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to mainland China.
The move will leave United operating non-stop flights from Chicago to only two other Chinese destinations, Shanghai and Beijing.
In 2018, American Airlines ended its Chicago to Shanghai and Beijing services, describing them as hugely unprofitable routes.
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