What’s the situation with airlines?
Singapore Airlines group passenger traffic plunged more than 60% in March as SIA touts incentives for customers to take credit vouchers rather than refunds.
The main Singapore Airlines brand flew 665,000 passengers in March, which is down 62.9% compared to 2019.
By late March it had cut 96% of passenger capacity on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir routes which is in effect until the end of April.
Amid a flood of requests for refunds, SIA is offering extra value if customers take up the offer of a credit voucher.
At the same time the International Air Transport Association (IATA) offers help to the aviation workers. IATA gives them free access to online training courses for up to 5,000 workers as part of its efforts to help the industry through the COVID-19 crisis.
Current employees—or those who wish to become a part of the aviation or related industries–can select one from six of IATA’s most popular e-learning courses to strengthen their industry knowledge and skills:
- Aviation Competition Law
- Destination Geography
- Travel Agency Fees: A Professional Approach
- Accounting and Financial Management for Travel Agencies
- Geography in Travel Planning
- Distribution and Airline Retailing
„Aviation will make it through the COVID-19 crisis. That’s because, as with past crises, the many great people of this industry will pull together to face the challenges head-on. In a salute to the women and men of this industry, IATA is making a small contribution to support the sector’s recovery with free training. These are tough times but we wanted to see the opportunity of the future, and what better way than through learning,” said Stéphanie Siouffi, IATA’s Director of Training.
With the help of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), IATA is calling on governments to take urgent measures to facilitate crew change flights for seafarers. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, seafarers are having to extend their service onboard ships after many months at sea, unable to be replaced following long tours of duty or return home.
Shipping is vital to the maintenance of global supply chains, but the current situation is unsustainable for the safety and wellbeing of ships’ crews and the safe operation of maritime trade. Each month about 100,000 merchant seafarers need to be changed over from the ships on which they operate to ensure compliance with international maritime regulations protecting safety, health and welfare.
IATA and ICS are working together to come forward with safe and pragmatic solutions that governments can implement to facilitate crew changes at certain airports.
MMP
photo: Pixabay
