The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed that Qatar is the only country in the Middle East that has not witnessed a decrease in air connectivity with the countries of the world despite the effects of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), while the rest of the countries of the region witnessed a decline of 88 percent.
According to the report issued by IATA, Qatar allowed transit passengers to pass through Hamad International Airport during the pandemic period, indicating that Hamad Airport is an important global hub for air cargo.
The report also mentioned that Africa witnessed a decline in air connectivity by 93 percent, as aviation markets that depend on tourism were severely affected, indicating that the Asia-Pacific region witnessed a decline of 76 percent.
According to the International Air Transport Association, the performance of the aviation markets in China, Japan and South Korea was better compared to the countries most connected in Asia, revealing that despite the relatively large domestic aviation market, Thailand was severely affected due to its heavy reliance on international tourism. Indicating that Europe witnessed a decrease in air connectivity by 93%, as it recorded a significant decline in most markets, and that aviation connectivity in North America decreased by 73%, as it decreased in Canada by 85% and to a greater degree than the United States of America, which recorded a decrease by -72%, which reflects the large domestic aviation market in the United States.
Source (Al-Raya Newspaper-Qatar, Edited)
