Airlines tear at governments for ‘shambolic’ handling of COVID-19 pandemic

Recent delays have been blamed on labour shortages as an increasing number of people desert low-paid airport work for flexible working practices that prospered during the pandemic.

Global airlines hit out at governments on Monday for what the industry’s leading ambassador termed their “shambolic” handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and urged nations to rip up the playbook of widespread border closures for any future pandemics.

“The cost of government mismanagement was substantial. It devastated economies, disrupted supply chains and destroyed jobs,” Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, told an industry summit.

Airlines have themselves been under fire from governments and consumer groups for disruption as travel demand resumes more briskly than expected, but the airline industry sees a common thread in uncoordinated government responses to the crisis.

“There was one virus, but each government invented its own methodology,” Walsh told the industry’s annual meeting. “How can anybody have confidence in such a shambolic, uncoordinated, and knee-jerk response by governments?”

Speaking to more than 100 airline bosses gathered in Qatar, Walsh cited research showing that border closures had barely arrested the spread of the pandemic while virtually halting international travel and crippling economies.

“Closing borders is not the right response to a pandemic,” Walsh said.

Governments worldwide lent more than US$200 billion of support to airlines to curb bankruptcies during the pandemic, according to UK-based aviation consultancy Ishka.

Airlines expected to narrow losses in 2022 and may make a profit next year as air travel recovers, IATA said.