Hong Kong, March 20 -- International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, has called for governments to recognise air cargo as an essential part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
A consequence of the global suspension of passenger flights in response to government efforts to stem the spread of the disease and the sharp decline in demand has been a reduction in cargo capacity.
Figures from IATA showed about 185,000 passenger flights have been cancelled since the end of January in response to government travel restrictions.
"With this, vital cargo capacity has disappeared when it is most urgently needed in the fight against COVID-19," de Juniac said in a statement on March 16.
"The ...