COVID-19: Nigeria to lose 2.2m passenger volumes, 22,200 jobs, $434m revenue-IATA

• S’ Africa tops region’s list

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has given country specific analysis of the impact of COVID-19 to Africa’s aviation industry.

Out of the five major economies in the continent comprising South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda, the disruptions from COVID-19 could result in 853,000 loss in passenger volumes and $170 million loss in base revenues in Nigeria.

IATA, the clearing house for over 280 global airlines stated that the disruptions to air travel could also put at risk over 22,200 jobs in the country. If the situation spreads further, approximately 2.2 million passengers and $434 million of revenues can be lost.

The global airline body noted that this is consistent with the ‘Extensive Spread’ Scenario it published on March 5, 2020.

South Africa tops the country in Africa to incur the biggest losses occasioned by the disruption by COVID-19 not only to its aviation industry regarded as the biggest in the continent but generally on its economy because of the impact of the virus in the country.

The Rainbow nation according to IATA would experience six million loss in passenger volumes and $1.2 billion loss in base revenues. The disruptions to air travel, it further stated could also put at risk over 102,000 jobs in the country.

For Kenya, the disruptions from COVID-19 could result in 622,000 loss in passenger volumes and $125 million loss in base revenues in Kenya. The disruptions to air travel could also put at risk over 36,800 jobs in the country. If the situation spreads further, approximately 1.6 million passengers and $320 million of revenues can be lost.

Consistent with the ‘Extensive Spread’ Scenario IATA published on March 5, 2020, the disruptions from the COVID-19 could result in 479,000 loss in passenger volumes and $79 million loss in base revenues in Ethiopia.

The disruptions to air travel could also put at risk over 98,400 jobs in the country. If the situation spreads further, approximately 1.2 million passengers and $202 million of revenues can be lost.

Rwanda, which has seen a leap in aviation and travel could be slowed down as a result of COVID-19 which could result in 79,000 loss in passenger volumes and $ 20.4 million loss in base revenues in Rwanda.

The disruptions to air travel according to IATA could also put at risk about 3,000 jobs in the country. If the situation spreads further, approximately 201,000 passengers and $52 million of revenues can be lost.

Wole Shadare