Airline body IATA says borders may not fully reopen until October

LONDON - Global airline industry body IATA called on governments to provide alternative forms of support and stimulus for the aviation sector as it warned that borders may not fully open until October.

The deepening nature of the crisis for airlines was highlighted by IATA's plans to delay its annual meeting from June to October because it does not expect borders to have properly re-opened to allow such a gathering by late June. Many European airlines have said they need a summer holiday season if they are to survive after almost a year of COVID-19 restrictions which have stopped travel.