COVID-19 to wipe out half of airport revenues: Report

ANKARA 

Airports Council International (ACI) World projected airports' revenues will drop by nearly 50% globally in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The ACI World on Wednesday forecasted nearly two-fifths global air passenger traffic (nearly 40%) to wipe out this year, corresponding to 3.6 billion passengers.

While the industry was expected to generate about $172 billion, the group predicted it could lose about 45% or more than $76 billion by the end of this year.

CI World Director General Angela Gittens called on governments for an urgent, swift, proportionate, and effective response to protect jobs, essential operations, and to help industry recover quickly.

“The global airport industry has faced multi-billion-dollar losses already in the first quarter of 2020, but it is now predicted that the impact of COVID-19 will extend not only to the second quarter of 2020 but also the second half of the year," Gittens said.

After first appearing in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, the virus has spread to at least 180 countries and regions.

The global death toll from the virus has hit over 47,500 with more than 941,900 confirmed cases and over 195,900 recoveries, according to the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.