Over 70% of Jobs Lost in Africa’s Aviation and Tourism Industry Because of Covid-19, AfDB Says

The AfDB has stated that about five million jobs have been lost in the aviation and tourism industries in Africa due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

About five million out of Africa’s seven million aviation and tourism industry-related jobs have been lost in 2020. Also, as much as $15 billion in revenue, half of this to African airlines.

This was disclosed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in a statement issued Friday.

AfDB’s Vice President for Infrastructure, Industrialization and Private Sector, Solomon Quaynor, explained that the pandemic’s effect was felt more in Africa, a claim that was backed up by numerous panellists at the just concluded AfDB webinar themed ‘African Aviation Recovery Conference: Coordinating an Efficient Response to the Covid-19 Crisis’ Effects on the Aviation Sector in Africa.’

He said, “The air transport system is really at the forefront of all our collective objectives to realize Africa as a single economic bloc. The centrality of the aviation sector to Africa’s long-term goals by referencing three flagship projects of the AU’s Agenda 2063 that aim to advance open skies and closer connectivity: SAATM, The African Continental Free Trade Area, and the African Passport-Free movement of people.

 “The air transport system is really at the forefront of all our collective objectives to realize Africa as a single economic bloc of 1.3 billion people with a GDP of almost three trillion dollars, for which we want to begin to really focus and increase trade among ourselves, as well as investment.”

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