The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on the governments of the Middle East and Africa to urgently intervene to help airlines, indicating that the sector's recovery may take a period that extends to the end of this year or the first quarter of next year.
In detail, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects airline revenue to drop to 23 billion dollars, including 19 billion dollars in the Middle East, and four billion dollars in Africa, indicating that revenues will decline by 32% in Africa and 39% in the Middle East on the basis of Annual and compared to 2019.
In a press conference organized yesterday, the Federation called on the governments of the Middle East and Africa to urgently intervene to assist the airlines.
"The aviation sector represents the main wheel in the economies of the region, providing 8.6 million jobs and contributing 186 billion dollars to the GDP of the countries of the Middle East and Africa," said Mohamed Ali al-Bakri, vice president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in the Africa and Middle East region. "Every job in the aviation sector supports around 24 more jobs in a wider economy."
He stressed that the failure of governments to provide urgent support will result in more damage that may extend for longer periods of the current crisis.
He expected a gradual lifting of travel restrictions, but said the recovery could take a period to the end of this year or the first quarter of next year.
“We thank the government of Dubai for supporting Emirates Airlines in facing these global conditions, and the spread of an epidemic (Covid 19),” Al-Bakri said, expressing his hope that governments will follow the same approach.
He added that «in addition to financial support, we call for providing facilities on laws and legislations in the Middle East and Africa region, such as providing fast track procedures for issuing delivery and receiving permits for freight operations, and exempting crew members of cargo aircraft from quarantine requirements for a period of 14 days, to ensure that Supply chains and support for temporary transit procedures for freight operations.