IATA chief lays out crisis facing aviation amid Covid-19 disruption

IATA chief lays out crisis facing aviation amid Covid-19 disruption

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to work together to urgently find ways to re-establish global connectivity by re-opening borders and to continue with relief measures to sustain airlines during the Covid-19 crisis.

IATA's call reflects deep industry frustration as government policies such as closed borders, travel restrictions and quarantines continue to annihilate travel demand.

The appeal comes as new figures showed that Middle Eastern airlines posted a 93.3 percent traffic decline for July compared to the year-earlier period. Capacity tumbled 85.6 percent and load factor sank 43.4 percent to just 38 percent.

Globally, total July traffic was 79.8 percent below 2019 levels, IATA said.

"Protecting their citizens must be the top priority of governments. But too many governments are fighting a global pandemic in isolation with a view that