In March, Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO stated he felt the coronavirus pandemic was “a temporary problem” – comparable to a natural disaster or a spike in oil prices. Several weeks later the carrier is locked in and is in “a struggle for survival” said its CEO. The company, which is now ramping up cargo operations to help defer lease payments, is facing a revenue loss of $550 million from January to April alone.
Across Africa, airlines stand to lose $6 billion in passenger revenue in 2020 compared to last year according to the International Air Transport Association.
