IATA and ACI World are calling on governments to grant financial relief to airport operators and airlines to maintain essential connectivity.
Aviation has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis with passenger demand plummeting and revenues falling beyond the level of the most extreme cost cutting measures, causing a financial liquidity crisis for airports and airlines.
ACI and IATA are therefore calling on governments to provide tax relief and loans or support to maintain financial liquidity.
Angela Gittens, director general of ACI World, said, “The financial impact of the current crisis is unlike anything we have ever seen and requires urgent action by governments to assist the aviation industry to protect jobs, ensure essential operations, and plan for recovery.”
“Preserving the continuity of operations for airports and airlines and protecting aviation jobs today will result in a faster economic recovery tomorrow.”
Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of IATA, said, “Governments must act now with financial lifelines that only they can provide for airlines and airports to see them through these extraordinary times. Airlines and airports are in this together. The more financially stable our airport partners are, the more they can help the industry to drive a recovery in air travel that will jump start the global economy.”