Financial relief will assist the industry to lay foundation for a balanced recovery
Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have today come together to call for governments to quickly grant financial relief to assist airport operators and airlines during the unprecedented pandemic crisis and support the essential connectivity the industry will provide for economic recovery.
The industry is united with governments around the world in efforts to stop the spread of the virus, and, in the face of massive government imposed travel restrictions, the industry is doing all it can to maintain air cargo operations vital to supporting global supply chains, including medical shipments critical to fighting pandemic, the two associations said in a joint press release.
The current state of the global air transport industry risks the loss of millions of jobs. The aviation industry supports 65.5mn jobs around the world, including 10.5mn people employed at airports and by airlines, and supports $2.7tn in world economic activity.
ACI and IATA called for urgent balanced support to the industry via taxation relief, including alleviation of payroll taxes, corporate taxes, concession fees or other government incomes from the industry and loans, loan guarantees or direct support to maintain financial liquidity across the aviation ecosystem.
“The financial impact of the current crisis is unlike anything we have ever seen and requires urgent action by governments to assist the aviation industry to protect jobs, ensure essential operations, and plan for recovery,” remarked ACI World Director General Angela Gittens. IATA’s Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said the situation could not be more dire.
