Corona crisis: the travel industry is on its knees

Jens Richter is editor-in-chief at Since July 2020, the doctor and journalist has also been responsible as COO for business operations and the strategic development of

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Air traffic and tourism suffer particularly badly from the consequences of the corona epidemic. Numerous companies report a drop in sales of up to 75 percent.

(jr / dpa) The economic damage caused by the corona pandemic will be greater for air traffic than previous crises. It can already be seen that the slump in demand during the financial and economic crisis or as a result of the Sars virus was less serious, says the chief executive of the Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry (BDL), Matthias von Randow.

Companies want to use short-time working

Both the aviation and travel industries are now insisting on rapid state aid. This includes, for example, the simplified use of short-time work for the employees of the companies concerned.

The airlines "made great efforts to adapt their flight offers to the falling bookings in order to limit the economic damage and secure jobs," said BDL manager from Randow to the German press agency. Nevertheless, the economic damage is immense.

Airports are also suffering

The Airport Association ADV pointed out that the dwindling demand in air traffic was also hit the airports hard: “Airports maintain large infrastructures. The proportion of fixed costs is very high. ”It is to be welcomed that politicians are examining measures to support hard-hit areas of the economy.

Ministry of Economics wants to help

Travel association president Norbert Fiebig said that people were insecure and were reluctant to make bookings. In a survey of more than 450 companies, a majority reported a drop in sales of up to 75 percent.

The Federal Government's Tourism Commissioner, Thomas Bareiß, has already promised support. “The situation is very serious. The tourism industry is particularly affected. We must now quickly examine where we can provide help quickly and unbureaucratically with existing instruments, ”said the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In the short term, you can certainly cushion a lot with short-time work benefits and liquidity assistance.

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