This archive report was first published on 24 May 2020.
Published on May 24, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the aviation industry, with proposals to bail out airlines worldwide reaching trillions of shillings.
Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka stated that air travel will be expensive as carriers try to curb infections, with the future of air travel expected to be different.
Speaking during the “Covid-19: Preparing for Recovery” webinar, Mr. Kilavuka noted that between now and December, there will be diminished air travel across the value chain, with 51 to 76 per cent of the market expected to disappear.
He emphasized that the industry is expecting an increase in travel at the beginning and then a slump thereafter, with most people traveling back home and traders seeking to resuscitate their businesses.
Mr. Kilavuka, who is on the board of governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), stated that they had a meeting on Monday to deliberate on the industry, with a focus on implementing standardized, irreducible minimums of hygiene.
Tourism Principal Secretary Safina Kwekwe noted that the aviation industry will face challenges into the foreseeable future, with a decline in global travel and jobs also declining to the tune of millions.
Ministry of Transport official Nicholas Bodo emphasized the need to ease some of the Covid-19 control protocols to encourage people to travel to Kenya in a safe manner.
