A 50% decrease in air traffic in the Arab region
The number of passenger air transport flights in the Arab region decreased by more than half due to the Corona virus, in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year .. This came in a new study issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in cooperation with The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), on the effects of the Corona virus on the transport sector in the region.
The study expects a decrease in the total number of passengers on flights to, from and within the Arab region in the current year, to about 154 million passengers, i.e. to the levels of 2009.
The total losses of airline revenues in the region in this year are estimated at about $ 38 billion, and international air travel is expected not to return to Pre-virus levels before 2023, the study also expected a decline in the revenues of the land transport sector in the region by 22% in the year 2020 due to the measures that accompanied the virus from closing borders and adopting safety protocols and their impact on the movement of people and goods.
The region is heavily affected by the virus and its display of resilience towards various imbalance factors, with varying effects at the level of countries.In a statement announcing the study, ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti urged Arab governments to adopt support packages for the transport and logistics sector that include financial support, tax cuts, exemptions from fees and exemptions, and support for workers’ wages and training.
