Page 56 - World Airnews Magazine July Edition 2020

NEWS DIGITAL

BUSINESS AVIATION MUST BE

INCLUDED

have promised to support both the
public and private sector and we want our governments. He would like to see help for
employee-related costs so companies can
Airlines have become the poster boys industry to be included within that.” keep staff and a clear structure detailing
of Covid-19 casualties. Unsurprisingly, Letters requesting support for the how governments will support the private
governments across the world have leapt business aviation sector have already sector.
to the aid of their national flag carriers and been sent to the governments of the UAE, “We are following up with the relevant
pledged staggering amounts of cash to try Saudi, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia departments and they are beginning to
and Bahrain. So far, the response from
and shield carriers from a (US) $314 billion governments has included a number count business aviation. At the beginning
revenue onslaught. of discussions and some charges being they weren’t but after our pressure they
High profile beneficiaries include the likes waived. are. They are considering us as an import-
of Air-France KLM, various US airlines and In addition to rent deferrals, some airport ant player because we play an important
Emirates. The major aerospace manu- parking fees have been waived and the role in the economy,” Alnaqbi said.
facturers too have been promised direct concessions are helping the industry to a
support. While it is of course comforting to degree.
see governments generally viewing airlines However, some business aviation firms BUSINESS AVIATION IN A POST-
as crucial keystones in economies, with the are facing a serious liquidity crunch, the PANDEMIC WORLD
limelight set on airlines there is a risk that same as airlines, and have had to send
business aviation may be forgotten and left employees on unpaid leave. If support No one really knows how the airline
out of support packages. is not stepped up before the crisis ends, industry will look after the pandemic has
That is the concern of Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, the industry could get to the point where subsided and the same can be said for
founding and executive chairman of companies begin shutting down. business aviation. How the industry might
look in a post-Covid-19 world is a topic
MEBAA (The Middle East & North Africa Alnaqbi said that while discussions are being discussed not just by MEBAA but also
Business Aviation Association). He has promising and concessions are welcome, the International Business Aviation Council
agreed that governments must support there is a need for more robust direct (IBAC). Alnaqbi is very clear about the
airlines in times of crisis but wants them support and greater structure from role he wants business aviation to play in
to remember that business aviation is
a sector that complements commercial
travel.
“We fly to the places airlines cannot
reach and help them to extend their
reach. We work together with airlines
and we would love to be seen as a
partner,” Alnaqbi said. “We understand
governments supporting the airlines
but they cannot ignore our industry
because we also play a major role in the
economy.”
In recent weeks, Alnaqbi has been
lobbying governments to include the
business aviation sector within support
packages.
He first asked MEBAA members to list
the challenges they are facing and using
the feedback, sent a series of letters to
relevant aviation authorities across the
MENA region.
“Operators want to be able to start
flying as soon as they can. The main
concern for them is that they do not
want to shut down operations. They
want some concessions and support in
most areas. They don’t know how long
this will go on for and without support
we will not be able to go on like this
without operators having to think about
shutting down.
“Business aviation can restart much
quicker than airlines so we must be
included in recovery plans. Governments

World Airnews | July Extra 2020
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