A regional travel estimate recently released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), showed that the dip was nearly twice as bad as the 49.8 per cent demand drop in March, and a record in the history of modern air travel. Indeed, the plunge was not unconnected with local and international flight restrictions as countries battle to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease pandemic. While this uptick is not significant to the global dimension of the air transport industry, it does suggest that the industry has seen the bottom of the crisis, provided there is no recurrence. IATA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alexandre de Juniac, described April as a disaster for aviation as air travel almost entirely stopped. It is vital that the aviation industry is ready with bio-safety measures that passengers and air transport workers have confidence in.

Source: The Guardian June 09, 2020 02:37 UTC