COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Observations on Efforts toward and Factors Affecting the Aviation Industry’s Recovery

International flight restrictions, local stay-at-home orders, and a general fear of contracting and spreading COVID-19 through air travel had a sudden and profound effect on the aviation industry. According to Department of Transportation statistics, passenger traffic was down 60 percent system-wide in 2020 compared to 2019. This reduction in demand has affected airlines, airports, and the entire aviation supply chain. This testimony by Heather Krause, Director, Physical Infrastructure, is based on ongoing work and provides preliminary observations on the: (1) actions that businesses across the aviation industry have taken to respond to reduced passenger demand, (2) factors that may affect industry recovery, and (3) considerations for federal support to the aviation industry. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined industry reports and statistics from 2019-2020 and reviewed GAO’s body of work on the CARES Act and past financial assistance efforts, including those directed to commercial aviation. GAO also interviewed representatives from domestic passenger, cargo, and regional airlines; large and medium-sized airports; businesses that maintain and manufacture aircraft and engines; and aviation industry and labor groups. GAO will continue to assess these issues as part of ongoing work, and make recommendations as appropriate. GAO has previously made recommendations related to oversight of payroll support assistance for aviation and the development of a national aviation preparedness plan for communicable disease outbreaks.

• Record URL:
  https://www.gao.gov/assets/720/712717.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://www.gao.gov/assets/720/712728.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://www.gao.gov/assets/720/712716.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Government Accountability Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Authors:
  • Krause, Heather
• Publication Date: 2021-3-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air travel; Airlines; Airports; Aviation; Communicable diseases; COVID-19; Demand; Economic impacts; Government funding
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Economics; Passenger Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01766435
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GAO-21-412T
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 4 2021 9:28AM