Dominated by the ‘big three’ of Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad, the region’s aviation industry has not escaped the global COVID-19 crisis. Simon Gregory looks at the approaches taken by some of the key players.
Etihad used Airbus A380-800, A6-APE (c/n 191), on repatriation flights as part of its response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
AVIATION IMAGE NETWORK/SIMON GREGORY
LIKE MUCH of the rest the impact of COVID-19 on aviation in the Middle East started gradually, with a steady increase in restrictions imposed by countries across the region. Over the course of March, the full effect of the pandemic became clear and led to decisions unprecedented in aviation.
Kuwait’s government was one of the first to react. From March 13, all flights to and from the emirate were suspended, while Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways both halted operations indefinitely.
