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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that the damage caused to the African aviation industry and economies by the closure of air traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened.
According to new data released today by the Air Transport Action Group of which IATA is a member:
By 2020 4.5 million African jobs will be lost in aviation and aviation-supported industries. This represents more than half of the 7.7 million aviation-related jobs in the region.
· 172,00 jobs will be lost in aviation alone in 2020. This is approximately 40% of the 440,000 aviation in the region [1] jobs.
· GDP supported by aviation in the region will fall to $ 37 billion. This is 58% below pre-COVID-19 levels.
“The disruption of air connectivity in Africa has serious social and economic consequences for millions. No income means the lack of a social safety net for many. Governments must do everything possible to reconnect the continent safely. Keeping borders closed or imposing measures such as quarantines, which deter air travel, will result in the loss of many more livelihoods and further economic contraction along with hardship and poverty, ”said Muhammad Albakri, IATA Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.
Trials to restart aviation in Africa
To minimize the impact on employment and the overall African economy, an accelerated recovery of air transport across the region is essential. This can be achieved by testing for COVID-19 as an alternative to restrictive quarantine measures.
Thirty-one countries in Africa are opening their borders to regional and international air travel. In 22 countries, however, passengers are still subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. This effectively prevents people from traveling. IATA requires that passengers be screened before departure. This will allow governments to open borders safely without quarantine and better support recovery efforts.
“The quarantine measures are paralyzing the recovery of the industry and hampering its ability to support social and economic development. COVID-19 testing will allow Africa and the world to reconnect and safely recover, ”said Albakri.
—THERE IS
