Global air traffic is projected to decline by half in 2020 and business might not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023.

The consequences for airlines will be detrimental — and passengers who start flying again will have to bear the costs https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

The drawn-out recovery will accentuate all the aspects of flying that travelers bemoan.

Did you think travel in 2019 was costly, crowded, mean and lacking in glamour? Get used to it https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

The decline of business travel poses the biggest threat to the industry.

Premium-class travelers account for about 5% of traffic but 30% of airline revenue, allowing carriers to offer economy seats at cheaper fares https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

Recessions typically lead to a three-year slump in air travel — and the one we’re seeing is likely to be unprecedented in its depth and length.

The industry will have to reckon with the mountain of debt it’s taken on https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

Some carriers will be able to withstand the crisis:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇦🇺" title="Flagge von Australien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Australien">Australia
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇯🇵" title="Flagge von Japan" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Japan">Japan
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇨🇳" title="Flagge von China" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von China">China

Those in large domestic markets that have been spared the worst of the virus should do better, as will regional Asian carriers and budget airlines in the EU https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

Airlines based in large domestic markets hit hardest by Covid-19 will find it harder.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇺🇸" title="Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Vereinigten Staaten">America
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇮🇳" title="Flagge von Indien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Indien">India
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇧🇷" title="Flagge von Brasilien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Brasilien">Brazil
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇷🇺" title="Flagge von Russland" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Russland">Russia
https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

The worst affected are likely to be the sort of long-haul connecting airlines:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🛬" title="Ankommendes Flugzeug" aria-label="Emoji: Ankommendes Flugzeug">Singapore Airlines
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🛬" title="Ankommendes Flugzeug" aria-label="Emoji: Ankommendes Flugzeug">Cathay Pacific
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🛬" title="Ankommendes Flugzeug" aria-label="Emoji: Ankommendes Flugzeug">Emirates
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🛬" title="Ankommendes Flugzeug" aria-label="Emoji: Ankommendes Flugzeug">Etihad Airways
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🛬" title="Ankommendes Flugzeug" aria-label="Emoji: Ankommendes Flugzeug">Qatar Airways

These won’t look like viable businesses for many years https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

Fortunately, governments have already extended some $123 billion of aid — equivalent to the last four years’ worth of industry profits.

Without support, only a handful of budget carriers are likely to survive on their own feet https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

That will translate into unpleasant experiences for passengers.

You’re unlikely to find yourself surrounded by socially-distanced empty seats — even easyJet, which proposed that measure in April, subsequently dropped it https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

Airlines at the best of times can’t make money unless they fill 80% of the plane.

Your best hope of avoiding infection will be either to wear a mask, to count on the reliability of in-cabin air filtration or to avoid flying altogether https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

Carriers will amplify making money on everything but the tickets themselves:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧳" title="Luggage" aria-label="Emoji: Luggage">Baggage fees
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💺" title="Sitz" aria-label="Emoji: Sitz">Extra legroom
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🍲" title="Topf mit Essen" aria-label="Emoji: Topf mit Essen">On-board meals
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✈️" title="Flugzeug" aria-label="Emoji: Flugzeug">Miles
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏨" title="Hotel" aria-label="Emoji: Hotel">Hotel and car bookings

Ancillary revenues have risen five-fold over the past decade to hit $109.5 billion last year https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...

When it comes to seats, some are predicting that the FAA will give carriers the green light to pack people even closer together.

The truth is, consumers are willing to overlook all manner of indignities in the name of cheap fare https://trib.al/aozF2K9 ">https://trib.al/aozF2K9&q...