IATA renews call in Latin America & Caribbean to support sector

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
IATA renews call in Latin America & Caribbean to support sectorWith revenues having largely dried up, but costs needing to be covered, airlines are burning cash at unprecedented rates

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has renewed its call on governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to support the air transport industry both in terms of providing financial relief and support, as well as by facilitating the restart of services in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Take-off guidelines.

“Aviation across the continent is now going into its fourth month of standstill. Even with a few countries have allowed the resumption of service, the majority are still keeping us grounded. As an industry, we have worked with all stakeholders in the value chain to ensure that we can restart in line with the globally agreed Take-off guidelines published by ICAO. Unfortunately, we are not making the expected progress with governments implementing these, and any further suspension of operations is placing the future of aviation in jeopardy”, said Peter Cerdá, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas.

With revenues having largely dried up, but costs needing to be covered, airlines are burning cash at unprecedented rates. IATA analysis suggests that airlines consumed cash reserves of USD 61 billion in the second quarter alone. Therefore, governments urgently need to provide financial relief and support, which has been particularly lacking in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Globally the promised government financial aid is currently around USD 123 billion which equals 14% of 2019’s total airline revenues of USD 838 billion. For Latin America and the Caribbean government aid of USD 0.3 billion has been promised, which equates to only 0.8% of the 2019 revenue (USD 38 billion) generated by the airlines in the region. This is the lowest percentage of any global region. Three of the four largest airlines in the region have already filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US, and four further airlines have already ceased operations.

IATA’s latest financial forecast sees the industry losing USD 84.3 billion in 2020, with airlines in Latin America and the Caribbean set to post a USD 4 billion loss. Aviation’s contribution to GDP in the region is set to shrink by USD 98 billion this year, putting 4.1 million jobs at risk.

Breaking this down by major markets in the region looks as follows:

With the recent announcement of the European Union from Latin America and the Caribbean region, only international arrivals from Uruguay will be permitted, a further drop in revenues is predicted. Based on current calculations, for every month that this restriction remains in place, a further USD 300 million could be lost.

Aviation has up to now played a crucial role in all economies across the continent. Latin America and the Caribbean simply lack viable alternatives such as roads or railroads. Therefore, aviation must be allowed to resume as quickly as possible. The necessary guidelines on how aviation can Function without becoming a vector for the spread of COVID-19 are outlined in the ICAO Take-off guidelines. These protocols have been devised with both medical and scientific knowledge and clearly spell out how aviation can once again safely fulfill its role as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the region. However, too many governments are dragging their feet in terms of implementation or are proposing options that will impose further operational and financial challenges on airlines. In Colombia, the decision-making power for reopening airports has been passed to individual mayors; Panama keeps extending the country’s border closure even though its airport is one of the main hubs in the Americas, and Argentina has again pushed back the restart date for domestic flights.

“What we need as an industry is for governments to provide clear dates on when we can restart flying. The agreed ICAO Take-off protocols are the harmonized global blueprint for resuming services. States now need to implement these and not each individually reinvent the wheel. While we understand that governments are concerned for the health of their citizens, hindering an industry that has developed robust protocols to ensure that air travel does not become a vector for the spread of COVID-19 will not help in the so badly needed socio-economic recovery”, said Cerdá.

Fortunately, some governments are allowing aviation to restart, for example, both international and domestic flights in Ecuador resumed a month ago, with more islands in the Caribbean – like the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica, welcoming back visitors. Domestic flights in Peru are also set to resume as of 15 July, a very important step for a country which relies heavily on aviation for tourism and exports.

“It is good to see that we are making some progress in the reopening of markets, especially across the Caribbean. However, governments need to continue to align their protocols with those of the ICAO. Diverging from these places an operational burden on the airlines and creates confusion among travelers, at a time where restoring confidence is essential. Ensuring that all stakeholders along the travel value chain work together is essential so we can contribute to the economic revival of this region”, said Cerdá.

RELATED TOPICS: GreeceGreek tourism newsTourism in GreeceGreek islandsHotels in GreeceTravel to GreeceGreek destinationsGreek travel marketGreek tourism statisticsGreek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: AEMoreira042281

  1. 03/10 23:22

    The biggest beer festival in Greece broke the attendance record

  2. 03/10 18:59

    Iro Hatzigeorgiou | Public property is becoming a catalyst for growth

  3. 03/10 17:04

    Crete Bakery School (Heraklion) | New Department - Start 11/11/2025

  4. 03/10 17:02

    Ryanair calls for protection of overflights when controllers strike – Fire on the Commission

  5. 03/10 16:12

    Reform in tourism education | Reviving the hotel - educational institution with modern means

  6. 03/10 16:09

    Heraklion | +4% international air arrivals in September

  7. 03/10 16:07

    Air Serbia | New visual identity with Tradition at the center

  8. 03/10 15:15

    New UN Tourism and FIA Awards for Sustainable Development in Sports Tourism

  9. 03/10 14:52

    Ryanair | New attack on the EU for air traffic delays - Greece's position

  10. 03/10 14:18

    GNTO: Promotion of "unknown" Greek destinations in the French tourism market

  11. 03/10 13:31

    Sfakia | In the global spotlight of thematic tourism for the solar eclipse of 2027

  12. 03/10 11:34

    British Tourism | Package Holidays: EasyJet Holidays and TUI Increase Atol Permits

  13. 03/10 10:37

    Greece's market share in Japan is strengthening

  14. 03/10 07:48

    Mousamas Hotel Group records positive results in 2024

  15. 03/10 07:43

    Lesvos: Crossroads of volunteering and tourism through Meeting of Greek Guiding Association

  16. 03/10 07:40

    Airbnb message to hosts: Take part in the EU consultation on housing

  17. 03/10 07:10

    Greece's big "bet": Connecting renewable sources with maritime transport

  18. 03/10 07:07

    Digital Work Card: What the first season showed in hotels

  19. 03/10 07:02

    What to do this week (October 3-10)

  20. 03/10 06:59

    Tourism supports Greek gastronomy products in the Belgian market

  21. 03/10 06:53

    Hundreds of Short-Term Rental Properties Declared Illegal as of October 1

  22. 03/10 06:21

    Bilateral tourism relations between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina

  23. 03/10 06:19

    Permits for floating platforms in Sounio and Lefkada

  24. 03/10 06:16

    Polish broadcast filming in Kalymnos, Pserimos and Kos

  25. 02/10 20:44

    Kefalogiannis meets with the Ambassador of Armenia – Strengthening tourism cooperation

  26. 02/10 20:42

    6th International Folklore Festival “FOLKWAY” in the Municipality of Hersonissos

  27. 02/10 18:47

    Save the balance of Athens – No tourist mall around the Acropolis

  28. 02/10 16:53

    FORUM OF THE POLISH CHAMBER OF TOURISM | Getting to know the culture of Thessaloniki

  29. 02/10 16:50

    Hotel investments are the big winner of the Greek real estate market

  30. 02/10 16:06

    Selene Vedema 2025: Santorini at the Center of the Global Wine Stage

  31. 02/10 16:03

    10th Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup at Glyfada Golf

  32. 02/10 16:01

    Yougov Survey | How “spiked” prices are changing Germans’ travel habits

  33. 02/10 15:58

    The Roman Odeon of Patras is being reborn

  34. 02/10 15:56

    TASTE ZAKYNTHOS – Zakynthos highlighted its gastronomic and nutritional wealth

  35. 02/10 14:37

    TUI | Autumn "crazy" of Germans for Crete - Which Greek destinations are in demand

  36. 02/10 14:21

    PPA: Triple distinction at the Compliance Awards 2025

  37. 02/10 14:18

    DKG Development delivers Safe House for victims of domestic violence in Piraeus

  38. 02/10 14:16

    Muse Calliope “tours” Pieria with 2D and 3D animation

  39. 02/10 14:09

    Corfu honors its tourism history

  40. 02/10 11:26

    Jet2.com and Jet2holidays: Extending the summer season in Kefalonia until the end of October 2026

  41. 02/10 11:23

    British confidence in traveling abroad is rising

  42. 02/10 10:46

    Wyndham Expands in Istanbul with Two New Hotels

  43. 02/10 10:40

    Corfu Hoteliers: Request for "freeze" of new short-term rental permits on the island

  44. 02/10 10:37

    STAMA – MOBIAK collaboration for fire safety in short-term rental accommodation

  45. 02/10 07:51

    Aid for accessible beaches in Corinth, Kymi and Rethymno

  46. 01/10 18:42

    A.Fiorentinos | Greece more friendly to tourists with investments of €380 million in infrastructure

  47. 01/10 16:45

    Promotion of Paros, Syros and Kimolos in the Netherlands

  48. 01/10 16:33

    Hilton | Interest in new investments in Greece - Olga Kefalogianni meets with the president

  49. 01/10 15:54

    SEAJETS | From Mantoudi to Sporades and Volos and October

  50. 01/10 15:50

    2nd Day High School of Elliniko “Elli Alexiou” | Bridge of Solidarity with Sikinos on October 28th

  51. 01/10 15:48

    Event | “The Future and Present of Cruising in Agios Nikolaos”

  52. 01/10 14:07

    British Airways | 850,000 seats to Greece in 2025, strengthening the winter season

  53. 01/10 14:05

    Stefanos Kollias: “Faros” sheds... light on the first national super-computer

  54. 01/10 14:01

    WTTC: Shortage of 43 million workers in Tourism by 2035

  55. 01/10 13:57

    Europe’s independent hotels saw rise in bookings and revenue during summer

  56. 01/10 11:15

    Aegean Airlines promotes the Greek island of Chios

  57. 01/10 11:12

    Food recognized as cultural resource at IGCAT World Gastronomy Congress

  58. 01/10 11:09

    The Region of Central Macedonia at the IFTM Top Resa exhibition in Paris

  59. 01/10 10:30

    Milestone for Agios Nikolaos: Largest Cruise Ship Ever Berths Following Infrastructure Upgrades

  60. 01/10 10:28

    Evaluation of Olympus as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site

  61. 01/10 10:25

    How does a government shutdown affect tourism in the United States?

  62. 01/10 07:46

    M. Vlatakis: Flight Delays Hurting Last-Minute Bookings - Bill Should Be Discussed After Season

  63. 01/10 07:41

    Delays, screeches and air battles between the Ministry and controllers at airports

  64. 01/10 07:36

    Alimos Marina: The road to a 100 million euro redevelopment for tourism and yachting is open

  65. 01/10 07:35

    Theatre Season 2025–2026: Ten Productions That Will Make Headlines

  66. 01/10 07:10

    ​The Pulse of the Day: Exhibitions or Excursions?

  67. 01/10 07:07

    N. Charalambous on TN | Seaplanes start in 2026 - Greece can become a global center

  68. 01/10 07:02

    Caretta-Caretta and sustainable tourism: Conditions for the new Camping Thelia camp

  69. 01/10 07:00

    Two Public Benefit Foundations with Hotel Property

  70. 01/10 06:56

    Sports events in Oropos, Vrilissia, Hydra and Sounio

  71. 01/10 06:52

    New model for buying a Corfu home – Housing and investment in fast track | Roula Rouva in TN

  72. 01/10 06:12

    Mushroom Festival in Agia of Larissa

  73. 30/09 21:18

    Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) cooperation with British Airways is strengthened

  74. 30/09 21:14

    Olga Kefalogiani at the WTTC summit | Emphasis on promoting cultural tourism

  75. 30/09 20:23

    Crete Hosts the CEV Beach Volley European Cup Final, November 6–9

  76. 30/09 20:20

    Record-breaking growth in global air travel in August - Which regions "took off"

  77. 30/09 18:30

    President of the Ioannina Chamber of Commerce at the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce

  78. 30/09 18:27

    Kyllini inaugurates a new era with seaplanes

  79. 30/09 16:35

    Why Ryanair is not restarting flights to Tel Aviv

  80. 30/09 16:03

    Athens hosts the “heart” of international cinema and television (October 4 - 7)

  81. 30/09 13:06

    Crete’s dynamic presence at the TOP Resa 2025 International Tourism Exhibition in Paris

  82. 30/09 12:23

    Emirates | Open Days to recruit new cabin crew members in Greece

  83. 30/09 12:18

    Radisson Hotel Group doubles its presence in Greece with 5 new hotels

  84. 30/09 12:16

    GNTO Serbia: Strong interest from Bosnia for tourism in Greece

  85. 30/09 11:59

    ForwardKeys | September Vacations: Couples and Solo Travelers Dominate

  86. 30/09 11:52

    Civil Aviation Authority: | Flights as normal in Greece on October 1

  87. 30/09 11:35

    INSETE at the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2025

  88. 30/09 11:32

    Honoring the memory of Spyros Kokotos at the 6th Cretan Street Cooking Festival

  89. 30/09 11:30

    Chania: Record cruise ship and passenger arrivals in the first nine months of 2025

  90. 30/09 11:27

    Pieria | P.O.T.A.P. Meeting with executives of the Polish tour operator “Grecos”

  91. 30/09 11:25

    Greece is the fifth most expensive European destination in 2025

  92. 30/09 10:38

    New five-star hotel from Hersonissos Group in Crete

  93. 30/09 08:48

    Amsterdam: Residents sue city over overtourism

  94. 30/09 08:43

    TikTok is dynamically entering tourism with new advertising and booking tools

  95. 30/09 07:58

    Kimolos seems to be the first to “win” the bet on extending the season

  96. 30/09 07:53

    XTERRA OPEN WATER Swimming Challenge in Voula

  97. 30/09 07:53

    Play Airlines: Sudden “stop” in all flights – the connection with Athens

  98. 30/09 07:50

    Transavia & Condor | New connections to Karpathos, Mytilene, Skiathos, Kalamata and Zakynthos

  99. 30/09 07:46

    Green light for three-story five-star hotel in Metaxourgeio

  100. 30/09 07:18

    “An Evening Under the Olive Tree”: The Naxos Autumn Festival Returns