Last checked at 
(Adds Cathay statement, BA cancelling flights)
By Chayut Setboonsarng and Jiraporn Kuhakan
BANGKOK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Passengers on some flights to
China will have to make do without hot meals, blankets and
newspapers, as airlines step up measures to protect crew and
travellers from a new virus that has killed more than 130 in the
country.
Seeking to contain the spread of the coronavirus by reducing
personal contact, Taiwan's China Airlines said it was
encouraging passengers to bring their own drinks bottles and
would limit re-usable items by replacing them with disposables.
The airline and its regional arm Mandarin Airlines stopped
from Monday serving hot meals and have replaced tablecloths and
napkins with paper towels on cross-strait and Hong Kong flights.
They have also stopped providing blankets, pillows, towels,
magazines and newspapers, while drinks and disposable headphones
are supplied only on request.
"The seat back pocket will only contain the aircraft safety
card and sick bag," said Tigerair Taiwan, also a
member of China Airlines group, adding duty-free sales were also
not available.
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on
Wednesday amenities such as hot towels, blankets and magazines
would not be offered on flights to and from mainland China from
Thursday until further notice.
Thai Airways is spray-disinfecting the passenger
cabin and cockpit on all flights returning from China and
high-risk destinations.
"Because we have in-flight entertainment which mean the LCD
screens are being touched all the time, so we deep cleanse every
flight before departure," an executive told a news conference on
Tuesday.
Its video showing staff in hazmat suits spraying down a
cabin drew praise on social media for the flag carrier's
efforts, although some were alarmed by it.
"Where are all the passengers on board? I think all the
passengers are supposed to be kept and be monitored for one
week," social media user John Honesty posted on Facebook.
"I suggest to stop all flight from China for at list 30 to
60 days. That will not kill the economy. The life of the public
is more important now than the so called economy."
Thailand, the top destination for China's holidaymakers, had
11 million Chinese visitors last year. But with 14 coronavirus
cases, it is the second-worst hit country outside of China.
Other airlines including Singapore Airlines are
allowing crew to wear masks on China flights, while American
Airlines provides hand sanitiser wipes for flight attendants to
use on all departures to China.
Some are taking even more drastic measures with flight
cancellations.
British Airways and Indonesia's Lion Air said on
Wednesday they would suspend all direct flights to China.
India's IndiGo is also suspending flights to Chengdu and Hong
Kong.
The announcements follow a decision by United Airlines
Holdings Inc on Tuesday to suspend 24 U.S. flights to
Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai due to a sharp drop in demand.
(Writing by Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore; Additional
reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney; Editing by Miyoung Kim,
Michael Perry and Mark Potter)
