Pakistan Aviation and COVID - 19

A brief assessment of Pakistani Aviation Industry in post pandemic era.

Pakistan’s aviation industry was a vibrant and growing industry before COVID-19 struck the world. PIA, the national flag carrier was claiming a business turn-around and stepping in to grey after a long spell of losses and reduction of routes. Although, the demise of Shaheen Air had been a blow to the industry, however Serene Air and Airblue were filling the gap gradually with PIA gaining a better share of domestic market. New startup airlines Air Sial and Falcon Air were about to enter the market and Vision Air charter operations was picking up on its cargo as well as passenger business. While few more proposed airlines were issued with licenses by the government of Pakistan, the overall scenario was of a growing industry poised to stimulate the domestic as well as international air travel markets.

Sudden Spread of COVID-19

When COVID – 19 hit the globe, the aviation world was not prepared for a pandemic of this scale and nature. It took the medical community some time to realize the full potential and nature of the decease and once these parameters were determined, countries started closing their borders and grounding the airline fleets. This brought the global aviation industry to almost a grinding halt with in a very short period of time, without any prior notice, and left the aviation experts bewildered about how to deal with the consequences of this pandemic. This situation affected every country and its airlines in a different manner as the regional spread of COVID-19 was though fast, yet gradual. Government and general public reaction to the pandemic was also a major factor how industries were affected in various sectors.

Pakistan and COVID-19

Pakistan faced a highly confusing situation from the outset as there were conflicting information about the extent of spread of this decease, its mode of transmission and its variance from common flu virus. Since the WHO took a longer time in declaring pandemic status for COVID-19, many countries were taken unprepared to deal with it and Pakistan was one of them. Government was undecided regarding taking precautionary measures due to economic impact and mixed signals from medical communities. This resulted in delayed lock-down and distancing measures and testing for infection across the vast cross-section of the population, which fueled the spread of the virus quite aggressively among the populous.

Many countries were taken unprepared to deal with it and Pakistan was one of them. Government was undecided regarding taking precautionary measures due to economic impact and mixed signals from medical communities.

Initially, many presumptions were wrongly made regarding the spread of COVID-19 virus in hot and humid climate, however, the middle eastern spread in Saudi Arabia, GEC and African countries proved those presumptions wrong. Pakistanis working and living abroad in middle east countries and other parts of the world got stranded due to travel restrictions and decided to return to their homeland given first opportunity. With in the country, three major operators ie PIA, Airblue and Serene Air were grounded by CAA for all domestic and international operations as a result of lock-down. International travel from Pakistan stopped when most of the countries imposed a travel ban for their citizen and anyone from outside. Consequently, most if not all business, leisure and tourism travel came to a standstill.

Looking Into the future

Pakistan had been following erratic policy about lock-down and travel ban. Recently the government opened up all domestic and international travel and business without any restrictions.

If the airlines will operate under the assumption that coronavirus will be a permanent fixture in our lives or something that we would be dealing with five years from now, then there will be a lot more infrastructure changes. But as it is, with the pandemic hopefully will be lasting far less time than that, such huge, sweeping changes aren't viable. Instead, COVID is a "shock to the system" that they have to deal with at the moment, and the changes they make will be less drastic, fairly inexpensive tweaks, just to "muddle through” until people feel comfortable and safe flying again. The disappearing middle seat will absolutely not last. Nor will carry-on bags be prohibited. If anything, maybe bag handlers will need to wear gloves, or there'll be more assurance that customers' bags "were kept in a sterile area" or sprayed down with disinfectant.

In addition, many airlines are financially strapped right now, and large changes just aren't economically viable. Airlines are taking this time to address immediate concerns and even get rid of things that may not have been the most cost-effective to begin with.