Page 32 - World Airnews Magazine May 2020 Edition

AFRICA

DOMESTIC AIRLINES MUST

COLLABORATE TO SURVIVE

impact of the corona virus pandemic. In 2019, African countries lost
about (US) $300m hoping that this year there will be slow growth

ingsley Nwokoma is the president Association of Foreign but now we are looking at a potential loss of (US) $4.4bn.

KAirlines and Representati ves AFARN in Nigeria. He spoke to QUESTION: HOW SOON DO YOU SEE A RECOVERY, DO
Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi about the problems of doing business in YOU THINK IT WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR AT ALL?
the aviation industry, and other issues.

Answer: It is a major impact; we need to get out of it first before

QUESTION: WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE we can start talking about recovery. It will be a slow recovery
DAMAGE THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC HAS DONE TO that will take a very long time; it is not going to be an immediate

THE AVIATION INDUSTRY SO FAR? recovery which is why IATA has started asking governments and
Answer: COVID-19 is a big threat to the airline, aviation and airport regulators to support the industry.

business. About one fifth of passenger traffic and almost half of They are even asking Civil Aviation Authorities worldwide to pro-
airlines’ revenue have been wiped out in 2020 following a previ- vide for cargo carriers who are in the forefront of the crisis to have

ously bad 2019. Governments all around the world must act swiftly fast-track procedures of obtaining over flight and landing permits

if we are still going to have aviation industry. According to the and exempting crew from 14-day quarantine as well as removing

Airport Council International, COVID-19 is predicted to wipe out economic impediment such as over flight charges and parking fees

two fifth of passenger traffic and almost half of airports revenue among others.

this year and this is equivalent to 3.6 billion passengers in absolute They are also asking governments to provide financial relief for
term, globally. them, whether we like it or not, air transport industry is important
Globally, the industry was expected to generate about (US) $172bn to economic growth in every part of the world, so, airlines need
but due to the pandemic, we could lose 50 per cent of that or even these packages from governments especially in Africa.
more. If we want to look at Nigeria and according to the Internation- Apparently, it is important that we start to plan now that we

al Air Transport Association, the country is going to lose about 3.5 don’t even know how long the pandemic will last. We are late plan-
million passengers which will result to (US) $760m losses in revenue. ners in Nigeria, we always wait for others before we start but IATA
The worst part is that we are risking over 91, 000 jobs. So, that is a has asked everyone to start planning now because we don’t know

very big problem. Looking at the (US) $4bn African airlines will lose, what will happen. As long as it is still here, the news will remain

it is an ugly scenario and IATA has been asking for support from gov- depressing. So far, the COVID-19 world realities are such that we
ernments. IATA said airlines globally need government to survive the don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
World Airnews | May 2020
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