Air traffic plunges 53% in March: IATA

World air traffic suffered a massive drop of more than half in March compared with the same period last year thanks to coronavirus-related travel restrictions, the airline industry's trade body said Wednesday. The 52.9% drop when measured by total revenue per passenger kilometres "was the largest decline in recent history, reflecting the impact of government actions to slow the spread of COVID-19", said the IATA. Many of the roughly 290 airlines who are members of the Association have been hard hit by the slump in air travel demand. "March was a disastrous month for aviation," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and CEO. "Airlines progressively felt the growing impact of the COVID-19 related border closings and restrictions on mobility, including in domestic markets. Demand was at the same level it was in 2006 but we have the fleets and employees for double that. Worse, we know that the situation deteriorated even more in April and most signs point to a slow recovery." He warned: "The industry is in free fall and we have not hit bottom," de Juniac warned, while urging governments and the industry to work together to prepare for the moment when travel restrictions can be eased. It is imperative that governments work with industry now to prepare for that day."<br/>