Only two weeks after the reopening of the American borders, the fifth wave of Covid and the uncertainties related to the new Omicron variant cloud the hopes of the airline sector for the end of the year.
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Cut-offs in flight: Airlines saw year-end numbers twinkle like Christmas trees. Their hopes were driven by the resumption of traffic since mid-2021, but two weeks after the reopening with fanfare of the US air border, the trend is once again returning to flight interruptions to certain destinations due to the spread of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19. Morocco has thus ceased its air links with France which, for its part, is doing the same with seven African countries. Airlines fear a difficult end to the year and even beyond.
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The trip is brutal. And it is Micheal O’Leary, the boss of Ryanair, the largest European company, who draws the conclusion in a video interview given to Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control body. “Until last weekend, everything was going well, he indicates. But this deteriorated last week: confinement in Austria, the Netherlands and Germany which are again worried. “
“I think we’re going to have an uncertain time between now and Christmas and after … which is the worst time of the season, when people start planning their summer vacation.”
Micheal O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair
Eurocontrol is already seeing the brakes: a decrease in the number of flights in European skies: 20,000 flights at the end of November against 25,000 in mid-September. And this accelerates after the All Saints holidays. French companies are particularly concerned because of the situation in the West Indies. “Sales until Christmas are currently being held back, sighs Marc Rochet, boss of Air Caraïbes and French Bee. We had a gradual increase in the roads until the school holidays, whether Christmas or Easter. We do not sell much during these periods: people have passed on the wait. “
For the moment, the outlook remains good for Santo Domingo and North America. But airlines retain their ability to adapt their traffic according to circumstances, with possibilities to cancel or postpone tickets.