The global aviation association warned Thursday a US-imposed trans-Atlantic travel ban would further hurt an industry already hard-hit by the coronavirus crisis, insisting airlines needed “emergency measures” to get through.
US President Donald Trump has announced a shock 30-day ban on travel from mainland Europe over the coronavirus pandemic.
The move, which sent airline stocks into free fall Thursday, “will create enormous cash-flow pressures for airlines,” Alexandre de Juniac, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), warned in a statement.
“Airlines will need emergency measures to get through this crisis,” he insisted.
He pointed out that airlines were already struggling with the severe impact of the pandemic, which has so far infected more than 127,000 people globally and killed over 4,600, according to an AFP tally.