Easyjet are to suspend a number of flights to Northern Italy
Restrictions are in place until at least April 9
Budget airline easyJet is cancelling a number of flights to and from central and northern Italy after the country's government imposed heavy restrictions on residents in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
Around 16 million people, more than a quarter of the Italian population, are in a state of lockdown until April 3 as the infection rate of Covid-19 continues to rise.
Italy has registered more cases of coronavirus than any country outside China while its death toll has risen to 366.
The British authorities are advising against all but essential travel to large swathes of the country.
The Foreign Office (FCO) advice covers the Lombardy region, including the cities of Milan, Bergamo and Como, and the provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and Rimini - all in the Emilia Romagna region.
Also included are Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region; Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Vercelli in the Piemonte region; and Padova, Treviso and Venice in the Veneto region.
On Sunday evening, easyJet announced several flights to or from these destinations would be cancelled on Monday.
The company said in light of the lockdown in Italy, it would be reviewing its flying programme to Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice and Verona airports from now until April 3.
Published: by Radio NewsHub