Full operations at international airports

THE Covid-19 global health crisis has resulted in a significant decline in demand for air transport in the aviation industry. Aviation is one of the most “global” industries: connecting people, cultures and businesses across continents.  Associates throughout the sector are committed to raising awareness of the benefits and the role of aviation.  It is necessary for all stakeholders and partners to work together to maximise the benefits of air transport, and to support the sustainable growth of aviation by connecting more people and more places, more often. All these efforts have however been affected by the Covid-19 which has seen many countries across the world closing their international airports as a way of combating the spread of the pandemic. Zambia on March, 25 joined other countries in closing all international airports except Kenneth Kaunda which remained open. On this day, President Edgar Lungu suspended international flights to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. President Edgar LunguInternational airports which had been closed include Harry MwaangaNkumbula, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Mfuwe. As the country is easing up its Covid-19 measures which have been put in place, the President last month directed the immediate reopening of international airports last month with hope that the move will revive the economy and steer growth. The aviation industry, like any other sectors of the economy has been badly hit by the outbreak of the Covid-19 with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) projecting a US$2.4 million revenue loss. Passenger traffic has plummeted to almost zero during the Covid-19 period Currently only repatriation flights and sporadic cargo flights carrying Covid-19 medicines and other implements were operating. “There has been massive loss…imagine the aviation industry derive its revenue mostly from its passengers that travel. “As CAA we have lost about US$2.4 million which is revenue that we could have gotten within the Covid-19 period but we have not,” CAA Director General, Gabriel Lesa, said. Mr Lesa however announced yesterday that all international airports will be fully operational by end of this month It is expected that the reopening of the airports will help to revive the economy as the aviation sector is an up stream industry. The aviation industry supports other economic sectors such as the agriculture and tourism. The aviation industry is a rapidly growing sector of the economy. The aviation industry supports tourism and international business by providing the world’s only rapid worldwide transportation network. This industry directly generates employment and economic activity across several areas, including the operation of airlines and ground-based infrastructure.  The aviation sector’s direct impact on jobs and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in any given nation is reflected by the domestic resources used to deliver all such services.  The resources deployed by the aviation sector are measured by their gross value added (GVA). In a majority of the developed nations studied, aviation was found to contribute at least 2 percent to GDP, suggesting that the aviation industry and a high level of development mutually reinforce each other.  That is, as a nation develops, so does the aviation sector, and, as the aviation sector develops, economic activity and living standards are improved. The Sun