Airlines in the Asia Pacific region, including India, are expected to report losses to the tune of $31.7 billion during the calendar year 2020, due to the covid-19 pandemic and a muted travel appetite, while losses next year are expected to narrow down to $7.5 billion, industry body International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday.
IATA, however, expects airlines’ performance to improve during the second half of 2021, though the industry body expects passenger traffic to rebound to 2019-levels only by the calendar year 2024.
Total capacity utilized by airlines in the Asia Pacific region is expected to fall by 55.1% during 2020, as compared to the previous year, while the total number of passengers carried by airlines in the region during 2020 is expected to fall by 62% from the previous year, according to an IATA presentation which was displayed during a media briefing at the body’s 76th annual general meeting.
“There is a real risk of airline failures, especially medium and small airlines, so IATA has asked governments to intervene,” said Conrad Clifford, regional vice president of Asia Pacific Region at IATA.
Though Clifford didn’t give the net loss figures for Indian airlines, one of the worst affected in the region, he said that it has urged the Indian government — which hasn’t yet provided any financial assistance to airlines — to change its current stand.
“We have urged the Indian government to assist airlines, airports, and other aviation stakeholders,” Clifford added.