Coronavirus and air transport: "The worst crisis since the Second World War"

Another blow for the aviation sector. Without warning, President Donald Trump has decided to suspend for 30 days the entry into the United States of travelers who have recently stayed in Europe, except the United Kingdom, to stem the spread of the epidemic of coronavirus.

For Alain Battisti, president of the National Federation of Merchant Aviation (FNAM), which represents 95% of the French air transport sector, it is "a political decision". According to him, French companies should lose "between one and two billion euros".

What do you think of Donald Trump's decision?

ALAIN BATTISTI. She surprised everyone. We are awaiting details from the US authorities to find out who is affected. For me, it is a political decision and not a health one. It will have a terrible impact. The ban is for thirty days and can be extended. This is unheard of.

However, the aviation sector has experienced other crises, such as the attacks of September 11, 2001 ...

Yes. But it's the worst of all. After the New York attacks, the American sky had been closed for ten days. There it is thirty days or more. This coronavirus crisis is the worst crisis facing air transport since the Second World War. It is worse than the economic crisis of 2008, that of SARS (NDLR: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) , that of the Icelandic volcano (NDLR: eruption of Eyjafjöll in 2010) or even the attacks. "

For what reasons ?

Because it is harder and more unexpected. However, it should be noted that the economic crisis is already there while the health crisis is only just beginning. We are in an irrational crisis. Passenger traffic has fallen on average by 30% in recent weeks. And this decrease is accelerating. For the next week, it is estimated that 20% of flights to France or that will pass in its sky, will be canceled. There is even a reflection at Aéroports de Paris to partially close the airports of Roissy (Seine-et-Marne) and Orly (Val-de-Marne). We are standing knockout. The other crises cost French companies a few hundred million euros. With that of the coronavirus, we estimate that they will lose between one and two billion euros.

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How long will this crisis last?

It's complicated to say. We think two or three months. But it will have consequences for five to six months. All the while, the airlines are going to have to hold on. The crisis is so deep that they will need help. We need a plan to end the crisis.

This Thursday morning a meeting with the Ministries of Transport and the Economy was organized to discuss the consequences of this crisis on the transport sector. What has the government proposed?

Everyone was there, air, rail, land, sea and taxis. The State recalled the tools already available, such as partial unemployment. Moreover, it is very likely that the compensation will go beyond the equivalent of the minimum wage. The Public Investment Bank (BPI) will increase its coverage rate and will be open to all companies, large and small. Above all, there will probably be a collective budget to take into account the impact of the crisis on the entire transport sector.

Will companies have to fire?

We will do everything to avoid it. There are around thirty French companies. They employ 55,000 people directly (Editor's note: including 40,000 at Air France) and 150,000 indirectly. There will surely be partial unemployment even if the companies, in order not to penalize their employees, will favor putting them on vacation. In any case, this morning, the government seemed to be very attentive. An aid plan should be released in the coming days.