Episode 15: Covid-19 - Airlines

Episode 15: Covid-19 - Airlines

By CGTN EUROPE

In a bid to avoid filing for bankruptcy, airlines are practically racing to make sure their planes are pandemic-proof. Today on the Agenda Podcast we find out how airlines will function in a post-COVID-19 age. 

Our first guest is Toppi Manner, the CEO of Finnish Airline Finnair. I asked him how his airline is charting a course through one of the most difficult periods in the history of his industry. Manner is confident that his airline will survive an aviation crisis that he describes as bird-flu, SARS and the financial crisis rolled into one [01:18]. He also explains how his airline has tried to adapt to Covid-19 and how flying might look different as we chart a course out of the pandemic [03:41]. 

Our second guest is John Strickland,  who has over 30 years&apos experience working in the aviation industry. He says the airlines have no choice but to rethink their business models if they want to stay relevant in a post Covid-19 world. He also says that airlines using social distancing on planes is “not ideal” and would necessarily not be economically viable [10:20]. John also explains why we will more than likely see further consolidation of the airline industry, especially in Europe, where he predicts several airlines will disappear [14:10]


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