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Global airlines’ grouping IATA has said that the coronavirus pandemic is expected to impact more than 29 lakh jobs in the Indian aviation and dependent industries. This perception came as commercial flight services in the country remain suspended till May 3 amid the nationwide lockdown to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.
Besides, the pandemic and subsequent lockdown have significantly impacted economic activities, with aviation and tourism among the worst affected segments. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said its latest estimates indicate a worsening of the country impact from the COVID-19 crisis in the Asia-Pacific region, reported PTI.
About India, IATA said the pandemic is expected to potentially impact 29,32,900 jobs in the country’s aviation and its dependent industries. The passenger traffic has declined by 47 per cent. Besides, the grouping noted that the revenue impact for airlines operating to and from the Indian market would be USD 11.221 billion (over Rs 85,000 crore). This refers to the fall in passenger revenue compared to 2019.
The “passenger demand impact (origin-destination volumes)” is a fall of more than 8.97 crores. All the figures are for the period of 2020 so far compared to the whole of 2019.
IATA is a grouping of nearly 290 airlines, including Air India, Vistara, IndiGo and SpiceJet.
On April 14, IATA said COVID-19 crisis would see global airline passenger revenues drop by USD 314 billion this year, a fall of 55 per cent compared to 2019. Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region would record the largest revenue drop of USD 113 billion in 2020 compared to last year. These estimates are based on a scenario of severe travel restrictions lasting for three months, with a gradual lifting of restrictions in domestic markets, followed by regional and intercontinental, as per IATA .
