Julius Baumann
29 April 2009
Johannesburg — THE global airline industry is likely to bear the brunt of the swine flu scare, with many passengers reconsidering their travel plans as new infections are reported around the world.
About 50 swine flu infections have been identified so far in the US, while more than 150 people have died in neighbouring Mexico, where the first infections were identified at the weekend. European Union (EU) officials said flu cases were also being probed in several EU countries.
No cases of swine flu have been reported in SA and the government is taking steps to pre-empt a possible outbreak, the Department of Health said yesterday. Response teams have been established in all nine provinces and health staff were being trained to identify and treat the disease. Clinical and laboratory surveillance measures, including at SA's airports, had been stepped up to identify suspected cases.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) said the flu outbreak could not have come at a worse time for the airline industry, already hard hit by the worst financial crisis in decades. "It is still too early to judge what impact swine flu will have on the bottom line. But anything that shakes the confidence of passengers has a negative impact on the business ," said Giovanni Bisignani, Iata's director-general and CEO.
SA airlines are largely sheltered from swine flu, with only South African Airways's flights to Washington and New York potentially affected by the outbreak. However, the airline said yesterday there had been no effect on its international routes and demand for flights remained strong.
Iata said passenger demand fell to 11,1% below levels recorded in March last year while airlines cut international passenger capacity by 4,4%, resulting in an average load factor of 72,1%, 5,4 percentage points lower than the same time last year. Freight demand fell 21,4% compared to March last year.
Iata has said airlines could lose $4,7bn this year even before the impact of swine flu is felt. But Finland's Finnair, after unveiling worse than expected quarterly losses yesterday, said Iata was too optimistic and that airlines could lose more than the $8,5bn they lost last year.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 Business Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Swine Flu Smoking Gun? CDC was Combining Flu Viruses in 2004
[http://www.naturalnews.com/026159.html]
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING] WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS !
BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]
" Truthseekers Mount Up ! " [ gcnlive.com ]
swine flu is a fast spreading disease and as a result, countries like Nigeria need to put all hands on deck to prevent its outbreak.
See all comments (3).
Active Discussions: Swine Flu