New analysis shows more than a third of the world’s airline activity has been drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the crisis, more than 37 million seats have been cut as travel restrictions prevent airlines from operating at full capacity.
The average effect of the cuts has been a 35 per cent cut to capacity but some localities have experienced up to 80 per cent.
Western Europe is one of the worst-hit regions, with a 53 per cent drop in capacity in just a week. Latin America followed closely behind with a 42 per cent decline.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Etihad immediately stopped all non-UAE citizens from boarding its flights, leaving many people on multi-leg journeys in limbo. The decision was made after the United Arab Emirates announced it would suspend all passenger flights, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi airport transit, from 25 March.
Here are the most recent overnight cuts:
- Austrian Airlines announced on 23 March that it will temporarily extend its cessation of flight operations until Sunday, 19 April.
- Air Greenland has suspended all commercial flights through 4 April. This comes as countries are setting up restrictions and encouraging people to travel less. The suspension of these flights started on 20 March.
- Canadian leisure airline Air Transat announced today that it would have to lay off 3,600 employees as air travel demand rapidly dries up.
- British Airways has suspended its operations from London City Airport. The flights, operated by subsidiary BA CityFlyer, will not restart until 4 April at the earliest.
- Singapore Airlines is down to operating just nine aircraft. The announcement came today as the nation banned transit passengers.
- Turkish Airlines has decided to cut most of its international destinations and just fly to four countries. The only destinations to continue to be served by what was once the world’s most well-connected airline are Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Moscow, Russia; Hong Kong; and both New York and Washington in the US.
