Battered consumer confidence to slow airlines' recovery: IATA

Faltering consumer confidence will slow the recovery of air travel once coronavirus restrictions end, IATA warned Tuesday, citing bleak new survey data. More airlines are likely to fall into administration without swifter govt support, IATA predicted, and fuel hedging will prevent many from benefiting from cheap oil. Demand upturn has been tepid in China and absent in Australia even after new COVID-19 cases have dwindled. "Once market travel restrictions and lockdowns are relaxed, there's still an issue about whether there will be demand from passengers to come back and fly," IATA said. Some 40% of air travellers plan to wait at least 6 months before resuming their habitual flying, according to an IATA-commissioned survey published Tuesday, and 69% say they will do so only after their personal finances stabilise. <br/>