The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has unveiled a plan currently being prepared in cooperation with governments, global aviation organizations and the World Health Organization to gradually restore air traffic again, and restore confidence again to travelers that travel will not endanger their lives.
Mohamed Ali Bakry, Vice President of the International Air Transport Association in the Africa and the Middle East, said in a press conference by telephone that intensive discussions on this plan had already started and were based on the return of domestic flights first, then regional and international flights, noting that the International Federation It works to make the plan smooth and have precautionary measures for all to keep the safety of travelers and employees working in the sector together.
Al-Bakri added that this plan would be universally agreed upon and would be accepted by various parties, such as airports, civil aviation bodies and the World Health Organization, noting that there are no different plans or requirements from one country to another in order to help the sector return again and achieve a gradual and slow recovery in Sector.
He stated that the positive effects of this plan will appear during the next few days, while it is expected that the plan will be fully completed by the states before the end of the second quarter, provided that they start to be implemented in the third quarter of this year, pointing out that all countries seek measures Agreed, because everyone knows the drawbacks of having different procedures in light of the great suffering the sector is witnessing.
Al-Bakri stressed that more than 115 representatives from 115 countries, including all the countries of the Middle East and many other countries, are involved in developing this plan in an attempt to save the aviation sector, which has impacts on many other sectors.
He pointed out that a study conducted by the International Air Transport Association in the event that the travel restrictions continue to be imposed for a period of three months with the gradual lifting of some of these restrictions on domestic travel, followed by the lifting of restrictions at the regional and international level, and indicated that the expected losses on revenues in the Middle East region may reach 24 One billion dollars compared to last year, and one million and 200 thousand jobs in the sector and its related sectors are exposed to a heightened risk in the Middle East region, which is almost half of the jobs in the sector, as well as a decrease in air passenger traffic by 51% during the year 2020, compared to last year and the decline of economies Extension Floating in the aviation sector in the region more than $ 66 billion.
Al-Bakri also pointed out that the movement of air travelers was almost completely absent, as the rate of stopping flights in the Middle East reached 95%, which led to stopping the flow of revenues to airlines, warning that no matter how companies try to reduce costs, they will not survive the financial liquidity crisis.
Al-Bakry renewed the call of the International Federation for the governments of Africa and the Middle East to urgently intervene to lift travel restrictions due to the outbreak of the "Corona virus" and the exacerbation of its economic repercussions on the region.