Former Chief Executive of IAG, Willie Walsh, has claimed that air travel will never go “back to the way it was” as all loans airlines received through this period will have to be repaid.
Mr Walsh has just retired as chief executive of International Airlines’ Group (IAG), owner of Aer Lingus, British Airways and Spain’s Iberia and Vueling.
Speaking about the future of air travel, he said: “I do not see the industry ever going back to the way it was, because there is so much repair that’s going to have to be done.
“You are not going to get back to the same level of growth for some considerable time.
“Aircraft that have been retired are going to be taken out of service permanently, I do not see anybody rushing to order more.”
Mr Walsh also pointed out that people were not reluctant to fly and were comfortable boarding aircraft, it was more that people were concerned that the quarantine requirements would be changed while they were on holiday, meaning they run the risk of having to quarantine for 14 days upon their return.
He said the Irish government had “effectively shut the island down”.
“What they are uncomfortable about is the uncertainty over whether they will have to quarantine when they get to their destination or when they return,” he said.
