World leaders have been urged to execute “crucial measures” to safeguard the future of the travel and tourism industry as it emerged that up to 75 million jobs are at “immediate risk.”
Governments must do more to safeguard the future of aviation to ensure vital services are not lost once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, three airline associations have urged.
Virgin Australia is reducing domestic capacity by 90% and temporarily grounding 125 aircraft. Low-cost subsidiary Tigerair Australia has also suspended flights.
Ryanair does not expect to operate any flights through April or May while fellow European ULCCs Wizz Air and easyJet have grounded the majority of their fleet.
Aviation’s an easy target for criticism, but hopefully the world’s governments now realise just how important the sector is as they rebuild their economies.
American Airlines is utilizing its currently grounded passenger aircraft to move cargo between the US and Europe, underscoring the importance of its routes for trade.