Airlines
Coronavirus Spread Becomes a Global Crisis for Airlines
The Covid-19 outbreak has prompted a decision by Lufthansa to cut capacity in half in the coming weeks.
Lufthansa Group plans to cut capacity by up to 50 percent in reaction to traffic declines stemming from the coronavirus crisis. (Lufthansa Group)
Lufthansa Group plans to cut capacity by up to 50 percent in reaction to traffic declines stemming from the coronavirus crisis. (Lufthansa Group)

Recently released IATA statistics show just a 2.4-percent year-over-year increase in January airline traffic, certainly reflecting the emerging effects of the coronavirus outbreak. But those figures undoubtedly will mark just the starting point of a precipitous capacity and revenue passenger mile (RPM) decline in February and beyond. Airlines around the world have slashed capacity and suspended routes to several countries hit by the Covid-19 virus, starting with the epicenter of the outbreak, China. Now, as the virus spreads around the world, it has affected airlines in every region, including some of the industry’s busiest transit points.


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