Emirates Airlines President Tim Clark said that the airline has taken several additional measures to ensure health and safety standards at the industry level with the resumption of some flights, adding: “We hope that Dubai will start receiving tourists again starting next month.”
Clark said, during the activities of the virtual event for the Arab travel market that started yesterday, that "Emirates Airlines" was able to record good results despite the epidemic, adding that the entire fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft will return to service after the sector's performance has improved and the demand for air transport has gradually increased. He expected flights to return to the growth path or see significant improvement in the summer of 2021.
Additional actions
In detail, Emirates Airline President Tim Clark said that the airline has taken several additional measures and measures to ensure health and safety standards at the industry level, and the carrier has started implementing these measures after resuming the operation of some flights, including providing free health protection tools for travelers.
He added in a remote interview, during the activities of the virtual event for the Arab travel market, which started yesterday, that standards have been adopted for cleanliness in the air as well, with regard to sterilization operations that include the plane and facilities, including toilets, indicating that airlines have a big role in reassuring And enhance the confidence of air travel dealers.
He continued: «We saw the beginning of these changes, and until we got more information and guidance related to quarantine and flight protocols, and how the airports will deal with passengers», pointing out that the airline’s fleet of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 uses filters Able to remove more than 99% of viruses from the cabin.
good results
He explained that «Emirates Airlines» was able to record good results despite the epidemic, as it recorded a remarkable performance since the beginning of this year, but that the demand began to decline during last February in Asia as a result of the start of the emergence of the virus, adding that the carrier was able, despite various conditions, to enhance liquidity and maintain Strong budget.
He stressed that «Emirates Airlines» is ready to take advantage of opportunities with the gradual resumption of the transport sector, and is in a state of continuous full readiness, noting that Dubai International Airport has taken many measures in all stages of travel, including sterilization standards for all facilities. "We hope that Dubai will start receiving tourists again from next month," Clark said, adding that the entire fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft will return to service after the sector's performance improves and the demand for air transport gradually increases, pointing at the same time to the importance of its orders from Airbus 350 and Boeing 787 aircraft to meet the company's requirements over the coming years.
Flights
Clark said flights will return to the path of growth or see a significant improvement in the summer of 2021, noting that the performance of the air transport sector depends on many changes.
"There could be a further increase in the pace of improvement and growth in the sector, if a vaccine against coronavirus is discovered," he said, adding: "However, the next six or nine months will be difficult for the aviation industry."
He continued: «I believe that the global economy has sufficient flexibility to bear the consequences of this shock, in the event that it does not continue for a long period, and I can say that there are some points that we can build on our path towards recovery, especially if we can make the necessary adjustments to our lifestyles And also the way we do business and those that determine our desires and directions for travel, and I think that things may return relatively to normal during the year 2021 ».
He explained that the recovery of the air transport sector and rebuilding the entire flight network may take a period that extends to 2024 globally.
And that the situation may return to normal by a period between 2022 and 2023 or extend to 2023 and 2024, noting that Emirates Airlines will operate its entire network of destinations at that time.
"All airlines face a crisis in cash flows under these conditions," Clark said, noting that the air transport sector has not experienced or witnessed such conditions before, and airlines are considering the options available to them, the most important of which is business continuity in the first place and skip this stage.
He added: “I do not think that I witnessed such a thing during my career. What we are witnessing today is a structural and fundamental change in the aviation industry. In general, the damage caused by the pandemic (Covid-19) to the global economy was estimated at $ 15 trillion, as it paralyzed many vital sectors, including of course the transport and entertainment sectors.
He continued: «Planning to resume work again is a very complicated matter, and we in turn closely monitor the changes taking place over the course of 24 hours, as we are starting to see some countries have started to reduce restrictions gradually, but I do not think that they will re-open their airspace to travel again at the speed that We want it. In this context, I believe that we will witness some new changes, according to which some countries will choose to travel to countries that are relatively free of the emerging Corona virus, which will allow travel and exchange services between those countries.
Emerging trends
The virtual event for the Arab travel market will witness a set of comprehensive digital seminars, virtual conferences, round table meetings, and activities to accelerate communication, as well as bilateral meetings, and the event will continue for three consecutive days, highlighting the reality of the sector, as well as the virtual event also, a series of Independent roundtable sessions are scheduled to discuss a number of vital topics and emerging trends such as domestic travel, luxury travel trends, corporate travel, travel based on dining experiences, and tourism sector recovery plans.
Sector support
Emirates Airlines President Tim Clark said that the aviation sector needs various types of support and assistance in order to recover again and be able to transport passengers around the world again, not necessarily to the same levels that we were before the crisis (Covid-19), but At least to levels that help airlines obtain the cash they need, ”he said, noting that“ some air carriers need urgent solutions to save them. ”