About the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on civil aviation

Restrictive and quarantine measures, which sharply reduce or in general terminate the demand for air transportation and provide their services are one of the main ones.

In this regard, civil aviation, almost all of its enterprises (airlines, airports, air traffic control companies, maintenance, handling, flight catering, fueling companies) suffer losses in revenue, cash flow and profit.

The situation is complicated by:

- lack of understanding of the time limits for resolving the situation (even where their time is indicated, the modes can be extended),

- possibility of further strengthening the restrictive measures,

- impact of the situation on the management and employees of aviation enterprises.

Obviously, aviation enterprises have already started the implementation of usual anti-crisis measures (closing flights, stopping/reducing the aircraft fleet, vacation and staff optimization), and they request support from Governments.

However, the current situation on its global scale is unprecedented and requires different approaches and measures, and most importantly, the daily joint work and coordination of all the heads of airlines in each country. It is hard for everyone and we must go through this crisis period together.

As a concrete action on behalf of the Interstate Council on Civil Aviation and Use of Airspace and the Interstate Aviation Committee, letters containing three resulting systemic proposals were sent today to the Governments of the Agreement.

For its part, the Interstate Council/IAC will in the shortest possible time hold a remote video conference within the framework of the ICAO-IAC project with invitation of all interested participants with the theme: “Development of reasonable and realistic measures and mechanisms for possible support of civil aviation in connection with significant restrictions on people travel adopted by the country's authorities".

The Interstate Council/IAC will fully continue their daily activities in the interests of the countries participating in the Agreement on Civil Aviation and on the Use of Airspace.