Airlines
New Data Shows Scale of the EU Travel Ban's Effect on Airlines
Almost 50,000 flights and more than 10 million seats will disappear from the market as a direct result of the European Union's 30-day travel ban.
Air France ordered 10 more Airbus A350-900 widebodies in December 2019, but the carrier now faces a significant dip in traffic as a result of government-imposed travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo: Airbus)
Air France ordered 10 more Airbus A350-900 widebodies in December 2019, but the carrier now faces a significant dip in traffic as a result of government-imposed travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo: Airbus)

The European Union’s ban on almost all non-citizens crossing its borders is set to result in the loss of almost 50,000 airline flights and more than 10 million seats, according to travel analytics group ForwardKeys. With airlines worldwide bleeding cash and issuing increasingly desperate pleas for state assistance, its latest data published on March 19 raises important questions about the viability of carriers responding to government requests to maintain essential services.