ICAO projects 1.5bn passengers’ drop this year

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has projected 71 per cent reduction in global passenger traffic and 1.5 billion passengers by the year-end due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ICAO, the United Nations agency regulating international air transport predicted that “Airlines and airports face a potential loss of revenue of up to $314bn and $100bn respectively, for 2020.”

This projection was contained in a document on the Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis.

The document was published in May but updated this week as contained on the website of the organisation.

“Airports have seen a -28.4 per cent decline in global passenger traffic volumes for the first quarter of 2020, equivalent to a reduction of 612 million passengers in absolute terms.

“These volumes (domestic and international traffic) are expected to decrease by -50.4 per cent for 2020 as a whole as compared to 2019 figures.

“ICAO estimates that by the end of 2020, the COVID-19 impact on scheduled international passenger traffic could reach reductions of up to 71 per cent of seat capacity and up to 1.5 billion passengers globally,” it stated.

ICAO recommends a phased approach to enable the safe return to high-volume domestic and international air travel for passengers and cargo.

“These measures will enable the growth of global aviation as it recovers from the current pandemic.”