Preliminary April 2020 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed that international air passenger markets were battered by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid spread of the virus, resulting in border closures and travel restrictions across the world, forced an almost complete shutdown of international airline operations. Meanwhile, air cargo markets remained active but were affected by weakening demand, and disruptions to global supply chains, … [Read more...] about Association of Asia Pacific Airlines April 2020 traffic results: Passenger demand collapses, decline in cargo markets deepen
Airports
EASA/ECDC Guidelines Welcomed–Essential that European States adopt harmonised measures
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the release by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) of the COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol guidelines for the safe restart of air transport in Europe. The EASA and ECDC guidelines are aligned with recommendations provided by both the airline and airport sector for a layered approach of temporary measures to protect public health while allowing viable air … [Read more...] about EASA/ECDC Guidelines Welcomed–Essential that European States adopt harmonised measures
Airline debt to balloon by 28 percent as heavy new debt levels seen to weigh down airline recovery
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released analysis showing that the airline industry’s global debt could rise to $550 billion by year-end. That’s a $120 billion increase over debt levels at the start of 2020. $67 billion of the new debt is composed of government loans ($50 billion), deferred taxes ($5 billion), and loan guarantees ($12 billion). $52 billion is from commercial sources including commercial loans ($23 billion), capital market debt ($18 billion), debt from … [Read more...] about Airline debt to balloon by 28 percent as heavy new debt levels seen to weigh down airline recovery
ACI and IATA outline roadmap for aviation industry restart
Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have called on governments to ensure any new measures introduced for airports and airlines in the wake of COVID-19 are supported by scientific evidence and are consistent across the world. The aviation sector has been brought to a standstill and a balanced and effective restart and recovery depend on collaboration among the key participants in the global aviation ecosystem. ACI and IATA have … [Read more...] about ACI and IATA outline roadmap for aviation industry restart
SITA steps up development of a self-sovereign identity for air travel
SITA has stepped up its commitment to developing a permanent digital identity for air travel by becoming a Premium Donor of the Sovrin Foundation, the international non-profit organization focused on the advancement of self-sovereign digital identity. The Sovrin Foundation is a decentralised, global public utility for self-sovereign identity. Self-sovereign means a lifetime portable identity for any person, organisation, or thing that allows the holder to present verifiable credentials in a … [Read more...] about SITA steps up development of a self-sovereign identity for air travel
IATA Outlines Layered Approach for Industry Re-Start
IATA has published Biosecurity for Air Transport: A Roadmap for Restarting Aviation which outlines IATA’s proposal for a layering of temporary biosecurity measures. The Roadmap aims to provide the confidence that governments will need to enable the re-opening of borders to passenger travel; and the confidence that travelers will need to return to flying. “There is no single measure that will reduce risk and enable a safe re-start of flying. But a layering measures that are globally … [Read more...] about IATA Outlines Layered Approach for Industry Re-Start