International passenger demand continued to be affected by the pandemic-related travel restrictions with demand plunging 88.3 per cent in November compared to the same month last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (Iata).
Domestic demand which had seen some recovery in the last few months also stalled with November traffic falling 41 per cent.
“The already tepid recovery in air travel demand came to a full stop in November. That’s because governments responded to new outbreaks with even more severe travel restrictions and quarantine measures,” Alexandre de Juniac, Iata’s director general and chief executive, said. “This is clearly inefficient. Such measures increase hardship for millions.”
Coronavirus infections continued to climb across the globe with countries announcing new lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic. As of Friday, the pandemic has infected about 89 million people globally and claimed more than 1.9 million lives, according to Worldometer, which tracks the outbreak. More than 63.6 million people have recovered from the infection.
Asia-Pacific airlines’ November traffic plunged 95 per cent compared to the year-ago period, while European carriers saw an 87 per cent decline in traffic, worsened from an 83 per cent decline in October as countries intensify travel restrictions in the wake of new coronavirus cases.
Middle Eastern airlines’ demand fell 86 per cent in November year-on-year, a slight improvement from an 86.9 per cent demand drop during the previous month, according to Iata.
North American carriers posted an 83 per cent traffic drop and Latin American airlines saw a 78.6 per cent drop in November, compared to the same month last year.
African airlines’ traffic sank 76.7 per cent in November, little changed from a 77.2 per cent drop in October, but “the best performance among the regions.”
“Vaccines offer the long-term solution. In the meantime, testing is the best way that we see to stop the spread of the virus and start the economic recovery. How much more anguish do people need to go through—job losses, mental stress—before governments will understand that?” Mr de Juniac, added.
Global air cargo demand improved in November but remained below the 2019 levels due to capacity constraints as passenger aircraft continue to remain grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Air freight demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, fell 6.6 per cent in November compared to the same month a year ago, Iata said in a separate statement.
Global capacity plunged 20 per cent in November from a year ago.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
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About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
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