Blame SARS
Commercial air traffic over the Pacific is off by
as much as 40 percent, while other air carriers are beginning to
report a rebound from the post-9/11 slump. Many of the
Pacific-based airlines serving East Asia are struggling in the wake
of the SARS epidemic in a way all too familiar to American-based
carriers. For them, however, there's little hope of government
bailouts. Instead, they're asking airports to reduce fees and
tariffs, hoping that they'll be able ride the storm out until SARS,
which appears to be abating in places like Hong Kong and Tapei, is
no longer a travel deterrent.
In the meantime, however, hundreds of flights in the region have
been canceled, thousands of passengers have opted not to travel and
now, airports themselves are trying to help.
Friday, the World Health Organization lifted its travel ban on
Hong Kong. Now, that city is determined to win back tourist dollars
lost to other destinations or just plain staying home out of fear
for SARS. In Hong Kong over the weekend, where commercial air
traffic is off more than 80% according to local officials, the
government is offering a package worth more than $12.8 million to
airlines hard-hit by the pneumonia-like disease. Airlines that
restore routes to Hong Kong will get discounts. Airlines who
increase their passenger loads to Hong Kong will also get discounts
on landing fees and tariffs. Passengers themselves could receive
free rides in Rolls Royce limousines from the airport to their
hotels.
AAPA Leans On WHO For Help
But the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines
(AAPA) wants the WHO to do more. The Executive Committee of the
AAPA met on May 19th, to discuss the SARS crisis and the
unprecedented impact it has had on the Asian airline industry.
Committee members most affected, in addition to China Airlines,
include Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines, but all
members have been hit to a greater or lesser degree.
The Committee agreed that the first priority was to establish
firmly public acceptance that travel by air did not increase the
risk of contracting SARS. They welcomed various statements by WHO
officials on this subject, but felt that more needed to be done to
get the message across. Only the WHO had the level of authority
necessary to change public opinion.
AAPA says recently adopted common screening policies by the
airport authorities of ASEAN + 3 would help. Secondly, the
committee felt that WHO should give equal attention to putting the
scale of the outbreak into perspective and to emphasizing the low
risk of infection. “What we are combating is fear and
misconceptions, not a runaway epidemic,” said Wei, the
Chairman.
The airlines were in full agreement that at the right moment it
would be essential to launch a massive campaign designed to bring
tourists and businessmen back to Asia and to remind people that
travel and tourism were an integral element of modern life, for
which there was no substitute. However, they cautioned that timing
was crucial and that coordination between airlines and regional
tourism authorities was essential for a successful campaign. Wei,
on behalf of the committee, said: “The perception in Europe
and the USA is, unfortunately, that the whole of Asia is equally
risky in terms of infection. Therefore, when the time is right Asia
must act as one in re-establishing its premier role as a
destination for tourism and business.”
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