Page 78 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

AFRAA CALLS FOR SUPPORT

CORONA VIRUS MEASURES FOR AFRICAN
LATEST UPDATE

AIRLINES

COVID-19 on their business to ensure The Assocation said that the pandemic
airlines recover effectively to support key has restricted national and international
The African Airlines Association economic sectors” said Abderahmane supply chains. Economic activity in various
(AFRAA) has urged African governments to Berthé, AFRAA secretary general regions has been disrupted by quarantine
consider the compensation of inevitable He said AFRAA remained at the forefront measures and reduced domestic demand
losses, the alleviation of exogenous with its members and the airline industry for goods and services.
operating costs, and the subsidisation of at large, in collaborative efforts to deal “To date, COVID-19 has claimed around
the African airlines in a bid to assure the with and contain the pandemic calling 6,674 lives across the globe. So far, 159
industry’s viability. upon all stakeholders to take the necessary countries have reported infections and in
“Demand for air travel has been nega- measures and precautions to keep safe. Africa the cases reported as of 16 March
tively affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, The African airlines association continues were 2,108 in 26 countries.
which has resulted in airlines making losses to follow the developments closely and “The forecast for global real GDP growth
due to substantial schedule changes, travel is issuing weekly bulletins to its member could dip below 2.5% this year according
restrictions and cancellations. AFRAA airlines consisting of 45 airlines cutting to the Economist Intelligence Unit. In
strongly recommends that African airlines across the entire continent and other the likelihood that the virus remains
engage their stakeholders to develop an stakeholders to assist in dealing with the uncontained, the economic impact will be
all-inclusive proactive response strategy impact of the COVID-19, as well as to share much deeper and more persistent, “ said
that addresses the adverse impact of the guidelines and best practices. Berthé Q

NEWS DIGITAL

CORONA VIRUS: UK ASKS

CORONA VIRUS MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE
LATEST UPDATE VENTILATORS

By Jamie Prentis

Ford said it has also been in contact with the UK government
The UK has appealed to some of its biggest industrial firms over cranking up production.
“We want to help where we can in the current situation and
such as Rolls-Royce for help in manufacturing health equipment we have been approached by the UK Government on this specific
including ventilators as the coronavirus tightened its grip on the matter and are currently in discussion,” a spokesperson said.
country. Japanese car marker Honda, which has a large UK presence,
There have been 1,543 positive tests the government said confirmed it had been contacted but did not give any further
recently from 1,372. information.
There are fears the UK’s embattled National Health System could “We have been contacted by government about the feasibility
become overwhelmed if the virus takes hold of the country. Many of Honda supporting the manufacture of additional ventilator,” a
countries are trying to buy ventilators, used to keep people with spokesperson said.
corona virus alive if they struggle to breathe. Peugeot-owned Vauxhall has also been reportedly asked to help
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticised in some parts as has Ford, which made just under 1.1 million engines in 2019.
for taking a more relaxed approach to the spread of the disease, "He will stress the vital role of Britain’s manufacturers in
especially in comparison to some countries who have imposed preparing the country for a significant spread of corona virus and
stringent lockdowns. call on them to step up and support the nationwide effort to fight
A spokesperson for Johnson said he would speak to manufac- the virus," a spokesperson for Mr Johnson said.
tures to seek support for the production of “essential medical Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there had been an enthusi-
equipment”. astic response to the call for ventilator production.
Rolls-Royce said it was ready to help Boris Johnson's
A special hotline has been set up in the business ministry for
administration. other firms to volunteer.
“We understand that the Government is exploring ways in which
Contingency plans to commandeer resources for the outbreak
businesses can help deal with the outbreak of COVID-19. As they are gradually emerging. Hotels will be used as emergency hospi-
shape their plans, we are keen to do whatever we can to help the tals, retired doctors are being asked to come back to work and
Government and the country at this time and will look to provide
any practical help we can," a spokesperson said. some elective surgery is being cancelled. Q
World Airnews | April Extra 2020
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