PLUMMETING passenger numbers travelling to Cairns have triggered the suspension of flights from carriers servicing Asian destinations in the wake of a growing coronavirus health crisis.

In response to the fall in demand for air travel, Singapore Airlines and SilkAir have further reduced capacity on a number of routes.

SilkAir has now cancelled 16 return flights between Cairns and Singapore between March and the end of May, after initially cancelling seven.

Affected flights include:

MI811 (Singapore - Cairns): 16 Mar, 23 Mar, 26 Mar, 30 Mar,11 May, 14 May, 16 May,

18 May, 21 May, 23 May, 25 May.

MI812 (Cairns - Singapore): 16 Mar, 23 Mar, 26 Mar, 30 Mar, 11 May, 14 May, 16 May,

18 May, 21 May, 23 May, 25 May.

MI813 (Singapore- Cairns): 10 Mar, 13 Mar, 18 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 May.

MI814 (Cairns - Singapore): 10 Mar, 13 Mar, 18 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 May.

"We will continue to monitor the situation, and be nimble and flexible in adjusting our capacity to match the changing demand patterns in the market," a SilkAir spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Jetstar last month announced it intended to reduce flights from Cairns to Osaka and Tokyo but a spokesman yesterday said no decision had been made yet on those or the region's Bali route.

"We are looking at all flights to Asia, including from Cairns; we are still working through it," he said.

Palm Cove barista Jessica Giacetti had been planning a trip back to Venice when hearing about a northern Italian lockdown.

"I am not worried about getting there, it's more about coming back that worries me," she said. "I'm not a permanent resident, I have a dog here and a house - I can't risk not being allowed back into the country."

She said Singapore Airlines had advised no travellers would be permitted entry to northern Italy from Singapore.

"So I probably wouldn't be able to leave Cairns at this point; it's too risky," she said.

"The situation is really serious and it's getting worse day by day, so I am a bit worried."

Yesterday all official overseas travel by state school students was halted due to the ongoing threat.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the Department of Education Director-General issued the directive for all international destinations other than New Zealand.

"The decision was made with the health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff in mind," she said.