The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that airline traffic on the continent of Africa dropped by 90.1 percent in August of 2020. This is despite the resumption of international flights in a large number of African countries.
The 90.1 percent decline is however significantly better than the 94.6 percent drop in July 2020.
More data revealed that the Latin American, North American, Middle Eastern, European, and Asia-Pacific airline carriers all recorded drops of 93.4 percent, 92.4 percent, 92.3 percent, 79.9 percent, and 95.9 percent respectively.
According to the IATA (International Air Transport Association) four airlines in Africa have stopped all operations as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, with two airlines currently in voluntary administration. A number of other airlines on the continent are facing major financial struggles and might also close down if they do not get help.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) believes that the closure of borders and the implementing of lockdowns in numerous countries on the continent inevitably led to the financial struggles faced by said airlines.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control stated that around 20 countries in Africa stayed under complete border closure as at the 26th of August 2020.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); Alexandre de Juniac, stated that the sustained border closures carried out by a number of countries is to blame for the drastic drop in air travel.
He added that an agreed process of pre departure testing for the Coronavirus needs to be implemented worldwide in order for more governments to be open to the idea of opening up their borders, and for travelers to begin patronizing airlines.
Although flight data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed that airline traffic had began to rise, the growth has been put on hold as a result of a number of new restrictions put in place various countries due to an increase in the daily Coronavirus cases.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); Alexandre de Juniac said, “With the dismal peak summer travel period behind us, we have revised our expectations downward to -66 percent.”
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