New IATA Director General's remarks during media briefing on his priorities
New IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac made the following remarks during a media briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic:
I think as you've seen from Brian's presentation, we're really seeing two industries operating within one, with significant divergence between what's happening on the cargo side of the business and what's happening on the passenger side.
Cargo volumes were up by 9% in February. So clearly demand for air travel by air cargo or freight is quite strong. And as you know, in a normal year, a lot of the cargo that airlines carry is carried in the belly hold of the passenger aircraft. And in some cases, like North Atlantic or Trans-Atlantic, that's as much as 55% of the cargo that's carried. And with the significant constraints on the passenger networks, we're seeing supply on the cargo side being constrained as well. So we have good demand, good volumes, but limited capacity. And that capacity will remain limited so long as airlines can't operate their passenger aircraft to carry passenger traffic.
Over on the passenger side, this is the most challenging crisis the industry has ever faced. I speak from personal experience having spent over 40 years in the industry. But if you look at the figures that Brian talked about, international passenger traffic is down almost 89%. And, it's showing no signs of recovery in the current environment.
What we do see, is that when constraints are relaxed or removed, there is very strong pent-up demand. That is what happened in Europe last summer and what we saw in Australia in February. So we are optimistic that as we go through the health crisis associated with the pandemic and these restrictions are relaxed or removed, we will see passenger traffic recover and recover strongly.
And while we fully acknowledge and understand the political need for governments to impose these restrictions, we believe it is very important that governments start thinking and planning for the removal of restrictions as the health crisis is overcome. We want to work with governments so that they can better understand what will be required from airlines because it's not going to be easy for airlines just to ramp up activity. That will have to be done in a structured way because all airlines want to see that done in a coordinated and in safe fashion.
So there's a lot of work that needs to be done. We stand ready to work with governments and other agencies to ensure that the recovery can be managed well and that people can get back to enjoying the freedoms that we've taken for granted. And I think that's a critical issue for all of us.
And it's also important for us to recognize that while the future is uncertain in the near term, we want to get back to a situation whereby the restrictions that we see in place today are removed when they are no longer needed. That means measures, such as testing, or the potential for showing vaccine certification. They should not become a permanent part of the industry. These are measures that may be necessary as temporary arrangements while we go through this crisis, but once we're through it, we want to see these restrictions permanently removed so that people can get back to traveling as they experienced back in 2019.
So I know you've enjoyed the presentations, my predecessor, Alexandre has given over the last few months. From all the feedback I've received, the media welcome these presentations and clearly value them. Given the attendance on today's call, I think that continues to be the case. Looking at the list of attendees, I know most of you. I think I probably met nearly all of you at some stage in my former roles at Aer Lingus, British Airways, or IAG. So I'm happy to continue to do this and Tony will arrange future briefings. We may not do it on a weekly or fortnightly basis, but we will certainly do it when we have something to say. And believe me, there are a lot of things we will want to say.
My priorities remain the same as Alexandre's.
We are clearly focused on working with governments to enable the airlines to get moving again. We want to facilitate our member airlines being able to operate.
It's important that the IATA Travel Pass is introduced and accepted because we need to be able to offer the customer a digitized option to travel. We can't have a situation where passengers are required to go to a check-in counter at an airport when they want to travel. Quite honestly, the airports that we're operating in today aren't designed to cope with high volumes of passengers turning up at check-in desks. The concept of self-service check-in using online or apps has become a permanent feature of the business. And we need to get back to facilitating that. And that's where our initiative the IATA Travel Pass is so important.
We want to see the industry getting back up to full speed in a safe and coordinated way.
We want to see the rest of the value chain recognize the need to work with us. We will not accept monopolistic-type behaviors from key elements of the value chain who may seek to recover the losses that they've incurred through 2020 from the industry as we do get going again.
And as I said, while testing and the potential for maybe vaccination certificates could be a feature in the short term, we want to see those requirements removed as soon as the health crisis and pandemic crisis has been managed and we get through the immediate challenge that we face.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
28/03 18:41
Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
28/03 17:32
Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form
28/03 15:46
Greece's Meteora Pyli Geopark added to UNESCO Global Geoparks network
28/03 14:44
IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
28/03 11:49
IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects
26/03 23:51
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
26/03 21:59
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
26/03 17:56
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
26/03 11:45
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
23/03 17:43
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
23/03 16:49
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
23/03 16:47
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
22/03 21:54
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
22/03 19:51
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
22/03 19:32
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
22/03 14:19
22/03 00:24
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
22/03 00:02
Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle
21/03 22:41
21/03 15:33
Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens
20/03 22:48
Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries
20/03 21:52
Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens
20/03 21:44
Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote
20/03 20:55
Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance
20/03 18:01
Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece
19/03 22:28
President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens
19/03 20:57
19/03 20:25
FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy
19/03 11:15
Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin
18/03 22:20
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President
16/03 13:01
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
16/03 12:56
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
16/03 11:28
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
15/03 21:50
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
15/03 13:45
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
15/03 12:55
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
14/03 23:43
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
14/03 22:58
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
14/03 22:52
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
14/03 22:49
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
14/03 22:43
Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos
14/03 19:32
No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time
14/03 18:36
Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday
14/03 14:48
14/03 12:54
Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May
13/03 22:23
13/03 20:11
Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece
13/03 19:15
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis
13/03 17:19
13/03 12:26
Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony
12/03 22:46
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
12/03 21:38
The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15
12/03 20:29
First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki
11/03 23:58
Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective
11/03 23:47
Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March
11/03 19:40
11/03 18:49
Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport
11/03 17:53
Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece
09/03 22:23
08/03 14:27
Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth
08/03 14:24
Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests
08/03 14:24
Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February
08/03 13:18
Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday
07/03 14:12
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
06/03 22:51
WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals
06/03 20:28
Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector
06/03 19:47
Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday
06/03 18:43
European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece
06/03 16:37
'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved
06/03 14:40
Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'
05/03 14:28
Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida
05/03 14:21
05/03 14:11
ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023
05/03 12:24
Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'
04/03 22:02
Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly
04/03 21:47
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary
04/03 20:27
Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025
04/03 19:44
Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday
04/03 15:12
Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background
29/02 22:54
Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday
29/02 21:44
Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation
29/02 21:30
Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points
29/02 21:03
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system
29/02 21:02
29/02 20:47
Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition
29/02 19:58
Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals
29/02 19:49
Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF
29/02 15:39
'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament
29/02 12:39
Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds
28/02 21:34
Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night
28/02 17:31
CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe
28/02 17:04
New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe
28/02 12:21
Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024
28/02 11:57
27/02 17:25
UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists
27/02 15:00
Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive
27/02 14:26
Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world
27/02 13:15
Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1
27/02 12:46
Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion
26/02 18:30
Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
Greek Deputy Transport Minister flies in first test seaplane flight from Lavrio port
Athens streets reopen after private university protest rally and minor incidents
3-year stay and work permits approved for 30,000 undocumented migrants in Greece
Minister: Greece to support Bulgaria and Romania in joining the Schengen zone
Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form
IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects
AEGEAN concludes transfer of stake in Animawings to Memento Group
Sailing from ports of Piraeus and Lavrio back to normal after high-velocity winds end
Ski resort on Mt. Pelion of central Greece in full operation
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin
IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups