Airbnb extends suspension of bookings in Beijing through April amid coronavirus crisis
- San Francisco-based Airbnb suspended bookings in the Chinese capital from February 7 to April 30
Online home-sharing service Airbnb has extended the suspension on all bookings in Beijing through April, complying with the Chinese capital’s efforts to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
That move marks the second time Airbnb has suspended activities in Beijing, as widespread concerns over the virus outbreak has led to an unprecedented collapse in travel and tourism across mainland China.
The San Francisco-based company suspended bookings in Beijing, covering check-in arrangements from February 7 to April 30, “in accordance with guidance issued by the government” to short-term rental platforms, a company spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.
Airbnb, domestic rival Xiaozhu and several other home-sharing platforms separately announced last week that they would take listings in the city offline through the end of February to comply with local regulations. They indicated that refunds would be offered to all affected users, including those who had cancelled reservations amid the health crisis.
The extended suspension of service by home-sharing platforms in Beijing has come as the new virus strain has so far infected more than 44,000 people and killed more than 1,000 in mainland China, with cases reported in more than 20 other countries.