Crain’s Headlines: United Scales Back Flights to China


United Airlines is scaling back flights from the U.S. to China as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.

The Chicago-based airline is cutting its schedule from 12 daily departures to just four flights, and suspending flights from O’Hare to Beijing and Shanghai.

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United isn’t the only airline affected by the coronavirus. British Airways has halted flights from London’s Heathrow airport to Beijing and Shanghai.

Meanwhile, a second Chicago-area patient with the coronavirus marks the first confirmed case of person-to-person transmission in the country.

In other Chicago-area business news:

Facebook has agreed to pay Illinois users $550 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over its facial recognition technology.

Filed nearly five years ago, the suit alleges that the feature violates a 2008 privacy law. Under the law, companies can’t collect consumers’ biometric information without their consent.

Attorneys say the settlement is the largest all-cash payout in a class action, estimating that each Illinois Facebook user could get $200 or more.

Finally, DuPage Medical Group wants to open two new $30 million outpatient centers.

The Chicago area’s largest independent physicians group has filed applications with the state to build a new center in Westmont and renovate retail space in Oak Lawn.

DuPage Medical says the new centers aim to consolidate some of its smaller medical practices and address the growing demand for outpatient services.


Crain’s Headlines is a joint production between WTTW and Crain’s Chicago Business. It airs every Monday through Thursday on the WTTW News program “Chicago Tonight.” 


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