Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/03/2020
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, March 3 (CNA) Airline companies and travel agencies in Taiwan are facing difficulties amid falling demand due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, while travelers have been expressing frustration at having to cancel or postpone their trips.

In an internal letter to its 10,000 employees on Monday, China Airlines (CAL) said the impact of the epidemic has been like an "avalanche," and it asked for understanding and cooperation if the situation worsens and tighter measures become necessary.

CAL has already cut salaries at the management level by 10 percent and has been asking its employees to take special leave.

"Even when the epidemic ends, the company will need more time than before to recover," the letter reads, citing previous crises such as the SARS epidemic in 2002.    [FULL  STORY]