Originally Posted by
FlyingCroc
I think the most difficult part for the ME carriers is that Asia is practically closed. China, India, Thailand Australia made the bulk of the passengers. With these countries closed and Africa were the virus just begins to spread it will be extremely difficult to fill an A380 or even a B777.
True, but at some point the virus will end either by a vaccine or just burning itself out - then the natural advantages associated with of location of the ME will reassert themselves. The airlines in the ME didnt grow into what they were by accident, there were specific reasons that made that growth possible and those reasons remain.
That being said, when they do come back I doubt that we will see the return of the generous 'expat' packages that we have seen in the past - I suspect that the present pay cuts will be with us for many years to come and will become the new normal.