Filipino airline employees remain hopeful amid aviation’s ‘worst crisis’ in history

Written by Pola del Monte
Published in CNN Philippines Life on Mar 17, 2020 

Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — Landing on deserted airports aboard near-empty planes, airline workers feel the trepidation in the air as the world faces this century’s biggest crisis: the novel coronavirus pandemic.

As COVID-19 cases breach the 181,500 mark globally, countries are going into lockdown. On March 16, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Luzon on “enhanced” community quarantine, suspending all forms of mass transport. With similar measures in many other countries, the transportation sector — especially the billion-dollar airline industry — is severely taking a hit.

Heading for descent

The airline industry has been a contributor to economic growth and globalization. In December 2019, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expected a net profit of USD 25.9 billion for the global airline industry in 2019.