$29 Billion Loss Expected for Asia-Pacific Airlines in 2020
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region will be the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis, with losses expected to be $29 billion for 2020. This is more than a third of the $84.3 billion industry losses globally.
The Asia-Pacific region was the first region to feel the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis. The region’s airlines will see passenger demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometres, RPK) collapse 53.8% this year, while capacity (in available seat kilometres, ASK) will be reduced by 39.2%.
“2020 is the worst year in aviation history and airlines are in survival mode. The carriers in Asia-Pacific will experience the largest losses at $29 billion. That’s a loss of $30.09 per passenger. In this bleak outlook, the priority is for the region’s governments to facilitate the restart of air connectivity in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Take-off guidance and principles,” said Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Asia Pacific.
“It will take a few years for the industry to get back to 2019 levels of activity. In the interim, governments will need to continue providing financial relief and assistance to airlines as well as flexibility in slot usage. We are also working with airports and air navigation service providers to identify areas of cooperation with a view to reducing costs for airlines,” said Clifford.
The updated country-level impact is given below:
| Percentage change in passenger demand (2020 vs 2019) | Passenger demand impact (origin-destination volumes – 2020 vs 2019) | Revenue impact (US$, millions, 2020 vs 2019) | Potential jobs impact, aviation and sectors dependent on aviation | |
| Australia | -53% | -52,510,000 | -14,770 | -376,100 |
| Bangladesh | -49% | -5,660,000 | -1,090 | -63,300 |
| Fiji | -51% | -1,170,000 | -310 | -65,500 |
| India | -49% | -93,270,000 | -11,610 | -3,060,000 |
| Indonesia | -50% | -60,560,000 | -8,320 | -2,096,800 |
| Japan | -53% | -99,790,000 | -23,920 | -620,700 |
| Malaysia | -52% | -34,060,000 | -4,300 | -224,800 |
| Maldives | -53% | -2,830,000 | -660 | -38,300 |
| Nepal | -52% | -3,490,000 | -530 | -234,200 |
| New Zealand | -52% | -13,250,000 | -3,480 | -176,400 |
| Pakistan | -53% | -10,100,000 | -1,870 | -265,600 |
| Philippines | -49% | -29,880,000 | -4,630 | -569,800 |
| Republic of Korea | -54% | -61,430,000 | -11,120 | -383,400 |
| Singapore | -50% | -24,770,000 | -6,950 | -175,900 |
| Sri Lanka | -60% | -4,150,000 | -730 | -418,800 |
| Thailand | -53% | -56,820,000 | -8,460 | -2,209,900 |
| Vietnam | -46% | -32,600,000 | -4,430 | -1,011,200 |
You might also like
IATA Outlines Layered Approach for Industry Re-Start
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed details of its proposed temporary layered approach to biosecurity for re-starting passenger flights amid the COVID-19 crisis. IATA has published Biosecurity for Air Transport:
Network of Indian MICE Agents Gets New Executive Committee
Jagdeep Bhagat, a known face of the travel industry, takes over as the new national coordinator Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA), a pan-India body of agencies specializing in Meetings,
Cygnett on fast growth trajectory, signed ninth hotel in India’s Northeastern region, in scenic Guwahati
Cygnett Hotels & Resorts, one of India’s leading and most preferred hospitality brands, has announced the signing of its ninth property in the Northeast region – Cygnett Park Guwahati. The company has


