The spread of Covid-19 has been leaving great losses and changes in the world, this time the airport sector is no exception, for this reason, there are companies that are looking for alternatives to provide support and that this sector can overcome this pandemic that is currently affecting to humanity.
The International Airport Council (ACI) comments that a large airport in any city can have approximately 40 million passengers a year, this results in an annual income of 1.300 million dollars; In this sense, they estimate that the losses that the coronavirus will bring as a result are equivalent to the complete income of the fifty most active hubs, they consider that it would be around 70,000 million dollars.
Based on this, the ACI seeks to protect the employment of more than 6.1 million people who currently work in airports, since they represent about 60% of the workers in the airport industry; for this reason, they have proposed five measures that will collaborate to stay afloat and that these people can keep their jobs.
ICA releases
Angela Gittens CEO of ACI World has exposed the serious financial crisis that the airport sector is going through due to the Covid-19, considers that financial measures should be taken that can withstand the domino effect that the world economy is having, focusing mainly on the protection of people’s employment.
They estimate that the effects may be close to the financial crisis that occurred in 2008, in fact, it may be greater and for this reason, they are seeking help from various sectors, governments and companies; considers that the contribution received must be the same for everyone without discriminating any specific airline or airport.
Measures raised by the ICA
- Airport taxes and fees that are applied nationally and internationally must be suspended to allow free entry of the aircraft and save time in uncomfortable procedures, which sometimes limit the services provided by airlines.
- Subsidies and collaborations on the part of the various governments, this with the aim that said aid allows to support the salaries and expenses of the employees of the airport industry, as mentioned above, the ACI considers it very important that people can keep their job.
- That different financing and loans can be safely accessed by the airport industry to guarantee its operations and stay afloat during the pandemic. Furthermore, said credits must have bank guarantees and preferential rates.
- They request that the rental charges for airport spaces and the concession fees that apply to operators be deferred or removed regardless of the current state of ownership because there are various paralyzed airlines that are winning debts without having any income.
- On the other hand, of the different states, salary guarantees must be maintained to support employees and people who are being temporarily laid off by the crisis, this is because they will maintain a minimum amount of employment to have continuous operations and be able to reinstate when all activities are activated.
What do you think about this topic? Do you consider that the measures set forth by the ICA are necessary?
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