The International Air Transport Association urged Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, to provide financial assistance and tax relief to airlines as they fight for survival amid the impact of coronavirus disease 2019.
IATA said it sent letters to the heads of government of 18 states in Asia-Pacific to appeal for emergency support to airlines as they fight for survival due to the dramatic loss of air travel demand. These states include Bangladesh, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Vietnam
“Airlines are fighting for survival in every corner of the world. Travel restrictions and evaporating demand mean that, aside from cargo, there is almost no passenger business. For airlines, it’s apocalypse now,” IATA director general and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said.
“And there is a small and shrinking window for governments to provide a lifeline of financial support to prevent a liquidity crisis from shuttering the industry,” he said.
De Juniac said without urgent relief, many airlines would not be around to lead the recovery stage.
Some 2.7 million airline jobs are at risk and each of those jobs supports a further 24 in the travel and tourism value chain, he said.