The last several weeks have proven how quickly our lives can change – both personally and professionally.
First and foremost, all of us at Ground Support Worldwide extend our well-wishes to those who have been personally impacted by COVID-19. We hope everyone who has become ill recovers quickly and those who have remained healthy, continue to be safe.
In our last issue, I used this column to express my excitement for the upcoming trade show season. Of course, those plans have been derailed by travel restrictions and quarantine mandates. But before those went into place, representatives from Ground Support Worldwide and our sister publication Airport Business attended the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference. The theme of the conference was resiliency, which was fitting given the developing health crisis.
Of course, we know this is not the first time aviation has faced a major challenge. This crisis will be difficult. Already a large portion of the ground handling industry has been negatively affected as airline passenger traffic plummets and demand for ground services declines. But other opportunities may arise. For example, the importance of cargo remains high – not just for consumer goods, but important pharma and medical supplies. Many airlines have begun using passenger aircraft to transport cargo, providing some work to a portion of ground service providers.
Ground handlers, airlines and airports need each other to survive. Enduring the initial impact of COVID-19 is the beginning of a much longer process to return to regular operations. We must work together to ensure businesses survive and jobs are saved.
IATA, NATA, NBAA and many others are working around the clock and are advocating on behalf of the aviation industry. These groups are issuing regular bulletins to help aviation businesses stay informed about developments like the United States’ $2 trillion stimulus program, CARES Act. Stay connected with these industry resources. Be sure to visit AviationPros.com regularly for the latest announcements and updates and subscribe to our publication’s daily e-newsletters to get this important news directly in your inbox.
As we’ve learned, things can change quickly. While it is unknown at this time exactly how long it will take to get back to normal (or what normal will look like in the future), I’m confident our industry can remain steadfast and navigate these uncertain times.
