Airlines were forced to cancel thousands of flights in order to comply with regulatory directives or operational requirements around the world, in response to the outbreak of the emerging corona virus (Covid-19).
According to the latest data issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), more than 60 countries around the world have announced the closure of their borders entirely to regular flights, including 11 Arab countries, and according to information bulletins issued by civil aviation authorities, the decision to suspend flights does not include cargo flights and flights The necessary evacuation and other conditions.
The list of Arab countries includes the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Lebanon, Sudan, Morocco and Tunisia.
Airports and airlines data, OAG, said airlines had reduced seat capacity for flights by just 20 million seats in the past week alone, the biggest drop ever recorded since the Coruna virus outbreak.
And showed that the seat capacity in Western Europe fell from 18 million seats to 4 million as of March 30, and South Asia recorded the largest decline rate of about 62%, indicating that the majority of European airlines that are still operating flights reduced seat capacity by rates ranging between ranged Between 55 to 75%.