Airlines cut European recovery outlook as pandemic drags on

Airlines further lowered their European traffic outlook on Thursday, as persistent travel restrictions and concerns about a second wave of COVID-19 dent recovery prospects for the sector. The warning from the IATA came as European states are imposing or considering new restrictions in response to fresh virus outbreaks. European passenger numbers are now expected to decline by 60% in 2020, IATA said, putting some 7m aviation and tourism jobs at risk. In June it had predicted a 6-7m jobs impacted, with passenger demand down more than 50%. "It is desperately worrying to see a further decline in prospects for air travel this year," IATA VP Rafael Schvartzman said. European flights and passenger traffic have picked up in recent weeks but still fallen short of the rebound airlines had been counting on in the crucial summer season.<br/>