BERLIN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The aerospace sector is facing its "most serious crisis" because of the coronavirus pandemic, making "quick and non-bureaucratic measures" necessary in order to secure the industry, the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) said on Tuesday.
More than 100,000 high-tech jobs in Germany are at risk, the BDLI said. "The situation is dramatic. Overnight we have been set back half a century in terms of travel and international exchanges," said BDLI President Dirk Hoke.
Securing liquidity for the aerospace supply industry as well as export support at national and European level are central concerns, according to the association.
The coronavirus crisis should also be regarded as a chance to transition to "climate-neutral" air transport. "The crisis should be used as an opportunity to make aviation more sustainable. We need financial support for the delivery of completed aircraft," Hoke said.
Global travel restrictions and dwindling demand have brought air traffic to a virtual standstill. Last week, the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said that the number of passengers who embarked or disembarked at Germany's major airports in March was 63 percent below the previous year's figure.
Demand for services, such as maintenance and repair, which account for a considerable part of the value-added of the German aerospace industry, has also collapsed, the BDLI said.
"We do not expect the aviation industry to recover quickly, but rather a U-curve with a deep valley," commented Reiner Winkler, BDLI vice president aviation. Enditem
