It is with reason that airline executives are worried about the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. How will this variant of African origin affect the airline industry in the upcoming month?
Emirates airline president, Tim Clark, expressed his concern and stated that a hit to the peak December travel would cause "significant trauma" to the industry for years.
easyJet, one of Europe's largest low-cost carriers, reported a 'softening' in demand as Omicron cases are reported in Europe. Some European countries that reported Omicron cases are; Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, and more. Travelers are most likely thinking twice about their holiday travels, causing a dent in demand for airlines during the highest travel season of the year.
The Omicron variant is yet another merciless blow to an aviation industry that had its recovery in sight. The United States opened its borders to international travel on November 8th, with its domestic travel already reaching pre-pandemic levels, according to the Transport Security Administration (TSA).
The new variant has proven to be more easily transmittable and resistant to existing vaccines, according to 'the BMJ,' a peer-reviewed medical journal. This information has put countries around the world on high alert. Most countries like the USA and Australia have imposed a limited restriction to non-citizens from African countries linked to the Omicron variant. Morocco and China have opted for stricter regulations of all nations.
Tim Clark stated that the month of December would be critical for airlines. "I would say probably by the end of December, we'll have a much clearer position," said Clark in an interview with Reuters. EasyJet CEO, Johan Lundgren, said they saw a decrease in bookings but had not noticed any decline in flights booked for 2022.
The Omicron variant is being continuously monitored for concrete evidence of its transmissibility and threat. Airlines are expected to wait for more substantial evidence before they put any new plan into action.
Commenti