Number of passengers in decline, resumption of traffic, jobs threatened … Update on the latest estimates unveiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The recovery does not appear to be immediately. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) published a few days ago its new update on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the airline sector in Europe. And the results are hardly reassuring.
“Although the European market has seen an increase in the number of flights in recent months, supported by the reopening of borders between Schengen countries and non-Schengen EU countries, flights are still more than 50% in the same period in 2019. The number of passengers is currently expected to decline by around 60% in 2020, which represents around 705 million passenger trips ”, specifies the association in a press release.
In detail, in France, Great Britain and Germany, this drop in traffic is estimated at 65% for the year 2020, against 63% in Spain and Italy. Finally, the most affected European country should be Norway with an expected fall of 79%.
7 million jobs threatened
With, as a consequence, a strong risk on the direct or indirect jobs related to the sector. More than 7 million jobs supported by aviation, including tourism, in Europe are now at risk, up from around 6 million estimated in June.
A situation which unfortunately should not get better immediately, the uncertainties being still strong on a possible second wave. While passenger demand in Europe is expected to pick up gradually, it will not reach 2019 levels until 2024.
What to push the 290 Airlines companies members of the association to demand more aid from the authorities. “With a recovery to 2019 levels now slipping through 2024, financial support, in forms that will not add further crippling debts to the industry, will be needed if we are to avoid an even sharper contraction of airline capacity and jobs. And regulatory assistance is vital. It is absolutely essential that the European Commission publishes an unambiguous statement on its intention to immediately provide a full derogation from the use of slots for the winter season ”, asks Rafael Schvartzman, IATA Regional Vice-President for Europe. A call soon?
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