ISTANBUL

The pandemic has put the aviation sector in a tough spot where quick response, flexibility and efficiency will be the keys to survive and succeed, the chairman of Turkish Airlines said on Wednesday.

The aviation sector is in a redefinition era, therefore the procedures and practices both on the ground and in the air are undergoing dramatic changes, Ilker Ayci said at the Eurasia Airshow 2020, which is being held virtually.

He recalled that several airlines had to reduce their flights and the number of staff during the pandemic, which hit the aviation sector deeply.

Saying that Turkish Airlines also faced several difficulties, he noted: "The foremost concern for us was devising ways to keep our guests healthy, safe and secure during their time with us."

"Thus, we have taken cutting edge measures and been using current technological solutions extensively to make the air travel experience more streamlined and contactless at all our customer contact points," he added.

The five-day virtual airshow will host representatives, top officials and experts from dozens of countries.

Aviation topics, such as the new age air defense strategies, civil aviation economies, and upcoming air platforms, will be discussed in webinars.