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China airline offers money for SARS cure

BEIJING, June 8 (UPI) -- China's largest airline is offering an award of free flights for a lifetime to any scientist who comes up with a vaccine for the deadly SARS.

The Financial Times reported Sunday China Southern announced it would grant free flights as well as the honorary title of "Most Respected Passenger" to anyone who comes up with a preventive or cure.

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A senior airline official revealed Sunday that the SARS outbreak sent passenger numbers plunging by 85 percent last month compared to May the previous year, the Financial Times said.

In mid-April, China Southern claimed no flights were cancelled because of SARS. However, a senior airline official now admits SARS had begun affecting passenger loads in March, the paper said.

June's numbers were slightly better after the World Health Organization lifted its travel advisory against China's southern province of Guangdong, where China Southern is headquartered.

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