Reeling from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, The Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO) has sought the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s help as to reduce the financial impact of the pandemic.
In a letter written to to the Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola on March 11, APAO highlighted the troubles being faced by the aviation industry, which is impacting the airports industry. They have requested to levy a nominal passenger facilitation charges as part of airline fares to cover increased operating expenses on preventive measures.
With as many as 585 flights cancelled due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the APAO has urged the mininstry to provide package for the higher expenses incurred to prevent the spread of disease which includes screening of passengers and disinfection.
Nearly 585 international flights have been cancelled to and from India between February 1 and March 6 because of the outbreak of coronavirus. As many as 16 international airlines have cancelled 492 flights and four private Indian airlines have cancelled 93 flights during this period.
According to the association, the Asia Pacific region has been the worst affected with passenger volmes falling to 24% in the first quarter of 2020. There is a need of provisioning of an airport operator alleviation package by Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) to facilitate the growing operational expenses, released in the next control period of applicable airport operators.
“The trade impact of the coronavirus epidemic for India is estimated to be about $348 million and the country figures among the top five economies most affected as slowdown of manufacturing in China disrupts world trade, according to a UN report,” the APAO said in a letter to the ministry of civil aviation.
Global airline industry lobby group, International Air Transport Association (IATA), suggested that governments across the world roll out reliefs for airlines, which have sustained losses. “Airlines are doing their best to stay afloat as they perform the vital task of linking the world’s economies. As governments look to stimulus measures, the airline industry will need consideration for relief on taxes, charges and slot allocation,” IATA’s Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac, said, adding that “these were extraordinary times”.
