Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have come together to call for governments to urgently grant financial relief to assist airport operators and airlines during the COVID-19 crisis.
The joint statement says that the industry is united with governments around the world in efforts to stop the spread of the virus. While facing massive government imposed travel restrictions, the industry is doing all it can to maintain vital air cargo operations, and include medical shipments critical to fighting COVID-19.
The economic impact of these measures on all involved in the global air transport industry has been severe, they say, and millions of jobs are at risk.
The aviation industry supports 65.5 million jobs around the world, including 10.5 million people employed at airports and by airlines, and supports $2.7 trillion in world economic activity.
ACI and IATA are calling 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,” ACI World Director General Angela Gittens said.
