TICKER VIEWS – Why governments should be compensating airlines for COVID disruptions

A year into the pandemic and yet on the rare occasion, a border is snapped shut due to the detection of a few cases of COVID-19.

That’s the case in Australia, at least.

There is no doubt the nation is doing incredibly well with managing the virus – in fact, the country rarely records a locally transmitted case.

“Unprecedented” – Why airlines didn’t know how serious COVID-19 was when it all started

On the rare occasion that the nation does record a case of COVID-19, often we see the states and territories of Australia snap their borders shut, in fear that the virus will enter.

But when this happens, what happens to businesses that are impacted by the loss of revenue? Who compensates the world’s airlines when flights are forced to be canceled and travel grinds to a halt?

Internationally, the problem remains much the same.

Irish A330 First Officer, Brian O’Leary says airlines still being ‘left on the ropes’ and Governments aren’t providing enough support.

Small Business Australia’s Bill Lang, who says ‘it’s time for Governments to do more and start compensating the industry before it becomes too late.

What the aviation sector has to say:

The Australian Aviation sector continues to slowly recover from the devastation caused in 2020.

We’re now seeing airlines bounce back to 80 percent capacity of pre-COVID levels.

But still, the industry is brought to its knees when border closures are put into place, having to cancel flights, furlough employees and leave many travellers frustrated by the news that their flight ‘won’t be going ahead today’

Declan Kiddle, an Australian Aviation Operations Controller based in Perth, Western Australia, says the industry heavily on Jobkeeper, a former wage subsidiary.

Kiddle says the announcement of a $1.2 billion aviation and travel support package for the troubled sector has been welcomed, but the continuation of snap-border closures is resulting in traveller hesitancy.

Vaccinations and travel

Airlines right across the world are heavily reliant on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Carriers such as Emirates have begun implementing full digital verification procedures to ensure smoother processing of passengers without needing physical paperwork.

Other airlines such as Australian carrier, Qantas has hinted at making it mandatory for all passengers that wish to travel overseas to have received a COVID jab.