Mideast airlines on path towards ‘normality’, says IATA chief

Mideast airlines on path towards ‘normality’, says IATA chief

Airlines in the Middle East are on “a path towards normality”, said IATA director general Willie Walsh, who expects the region’s carriers to reduce pandemic-induced losses next year.

Addressing Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) 54th AGM in Doha on Thursday, Walsh said, for the airlines based in this region, a cumulative loss of $6.8bn was estimated for this year, with an improvement to $4.6bn in losses for 2022.

“We are, however, past the worst point. And we can see a path towards normality,” Walsh noted.

The cargo business is already operating at 9% above pre-crisis levels, and in the Middle East 18%. Air cargo has been a lifeline for many, delivering vaccines, PPE, medical equipment and even e-commerce. In doing so, it has also been the revenue star for many airlines in our industry.

“The region’s carriers, specifically Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways, played a critical role in this mammoth task by keeping flying throughout the crisis,” Walsh noted.

Where governments have not restricted travel, the passenger business recovery has been swift. Domestic markets are expected to reach nearly 75% of pre-crisis levels by the end of this year, but unfortunately international travel — where we see travel restrictions continuing —