BEIJING -- China's civil aviation sector stepped up support amid the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). 

The sector had transported 26,375 tonnes of epidemic prevention and control supplies via 19,344 flights by Saturday, data from CAAC showed.

A total of 7,151 tonnes of emergency materials had been sent to Hubei Province via 584 flights, and China's civil airlines had brought more than 1,300 Hubei tourists stranded overseas back to China by Feb 29, said the CAAC.

The CAAC will arrange additional or charter flights to bring back passengers stranded abroad if necessary, according to Zhu Tao, an official with CAAC.

Flights between China and Japan and the Republic of Korea have been reduced since the epidemic spread in the two countries, according to Zhu.

The aviation industry vowed to pay special attention to epidemic prevention and control and the health of operational staff, and increase the frequency of aircraft cleaning and disinfection, Zhu added.