The government’s proposals for privatising more airports and freeing up more airspace for civilian flights disappointed the aviation industry in the absence of any relief measures for cash-strapped airlines that have been grounded for over a month and a half due to the covid-induced lockdown.
“Now we can almost certainly say two or three airlines may not survive the current crisis,” said a senior airline official, with a no-frills carrier, who requested anonymity.
“What has been announced is simply a case of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, along with perhaps shortening the queueing time for the buffet, while the gaping hole from the iceberg continues to take in water,” the official said, adding that the reforms announced were ‘business as usual’ steps.
