Page 6 - World Airnews Magazine November 2020

FLAREPATH

UNBLOCK THE FUNDS

By Heidi Gibson

pen soon 4.5 million jobs will be lost in the
recovery will only really begin in 2023. aviation and related industries – well over

In the Middle East, the situation is even
S the rest of the world faces a worse. Here IATA is projecting passenger half of the region’s level of employment.

Asecond waves of Corona virus in- numbers to drop to 45% - a further 15% In the aviation specific sector 172 000 jobs

fections, the situation among aviation and lost in recent months. This translates to 60 are at risk or 40% of the total 440 000

aviation jobs.

related industries in Africa and the Middle million passengers as opposed to the 203
The GDP for the region will lose $37
East is worsening. million that usually travel. billion.
We are lagging behind the rest of the Looking forward to next year for the Mid-
“These numbers tell the story. They con-
world’s recovery and – if something does dle East demand is expected to strengthen tinue to touch everyone’s lives,” he said.

not happen soon – we could see further to 45% of 2019 levels with passenger num-

collapse of airlines and a great reduction bers increasing to 90 million passengers. “So what is the solution? Governments

in GDP. Already Cape Verde airlines has “However these forecasts are dynamic, must come together in a unified harmon-

ceased operations, the future of SAA hangs can change and are greatly impacted by ised way. They have to unblock the funds

on a lifeline promise by government, SA government decisions, “ said Albakri. so that everyone can benefit.”

Express has been placed in in provisional He said the recovery for the Middle Governments must replace quarantine

liquidation and Comair have also ceased East will not come before 2024 – one year measures with testing. While African bor-

operations but might be revived after a behind Africa. ders have opened up quarantines are still

private investor has shown interest. Air in place and this is the same as having the

Mauritius went into voluntary administra- Restoring air connectivity is vital to borders closed.

tion soon after the crisis hit and several restart the industry. He called on African “We have to move away from this and

other airlines in the region remain in seri- nations to come together and in a joint into scalable, affordable rapid testing.

ous financial crisis. effort to remove all hurdles, road blocks Preferably done before the passenger
and to move to unblock the much- needed

In his monthly briefing to the press IATA funds pledged by organisations and banks leaves and not at arrival. This will ensure no

regional vice president Muhammed Albakri in February. transportation of covid cases,” he said.

painted a bleak picture. Projections for the He said the World Bank had pledged

number of passengers has been downgrad- Millions of African aviation and related $12million to help Africa governments get

ed further with the forecast of traffic flows jobs are at risk. If something does not hap- ready to receive the vaccines. These funds

for Africa now sitting at 30% of last year‘s are to be used to upgrade facilities, pro-

levels. In July a few months prior to this cesses, to be able to receive and distribute

Albakri and the IATA team were projecting the vaccine down the line.

somewhat optimistically that we would He ended on a positive note following the

reach 45% of last years’ levels. Jordan and Israel air space agreement that

This translates to a meagre 45 million would for the first in a long time allow the

passengers compared to 155 million from free movement of aircraft across air space.
last year. While demand is expected to in- This historic agreement will go a long
crease next year projections are that Africa way help reduce cost, flight time and most

will only reach 45 % levels of last year and importantly – reduce CO² omissions. Q
World Airnews | November / December 2020
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