International Air Transport Association, ITF seek bailout to save 4.8 million jobs

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have again appealed for urgent government intervention to prevent an employment catastrophe in the global aviation industry.

The impact of COVID-19-related border restrictions and quarantine measures has effectively closed down the aviation industry, grounding planes and leaving infrastructure and aircraft manufacturing capacity idle.

Estimates from the Air Transport Action Group suggest some 4.8 million aviation workers’ jobs are at risk as a result of air travel demand falling more than 75 per cent – August 2020 compared to August 2019.

Aviation accounts for over 124,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country, And The Nigerian Government has disclosed plans to support operating carriers with N4 billion, which stakeholders have described as too small.

The IATA and the ITF request to governments includes calls to provide continued financial support for the aviation industry; safely re-open borders without quarantine by implementing a globally harmonised system of pre-departure COVID-19 testing.

IATA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alexandre de Juniac, said aviation faces an unprecedented employment catastrophe with governments’ support for airlines.