Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu, in his written statement, made evaluations regarding the situation of the civil aviation sector in Turkey during the process of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Karaismailoğlu stated that the global aviation sector has been significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with an expected 40% decrease in the number of passengers worldwide. He continued, “Therefore, the global civil aviation sector is experiencing major difficulties due to the pandemic, but thanks to the regulations and support we have provided to the sector since the beginning of the pandemic, the Turkish civil aviation sector is overcoming this pandemic with minimal impact.”
Karaismailoğlu emphasized the negative effects of the pandemic on all countries both financially and spiritually, expressing that it has caused significant damage to national economies as well.
Reminding that intercity and international flights were halted for a period as part of the measures to combat the pandemic, and then resumed with certain restrictions, Karaismailoğlu used the expressions, “The coronavirus has had a significant impact on the global economy and civil aviation. Likewise, according to the data of the Airports Council International (ACI), a 40% decrease in the number of passengers and an estimated $76 billion decrease in airport revenues are expected by the end of the year compared to 2019.”
“We minimized the difficulties experienced in the sector”
From the first day of the Covid-19 pandemic, Karaismailoğlu stated that they took measures for civil aviation, as they did in all sectors, and provided significant support to the sector. He noted, “During the period when the pandemic started and air transportation came to a standstill, we first took the necessary measures to prevent operators from suffering slot losses due to flight cancellations. We deferred the payments of airport, terminal, and ground handling businesses, such as license, extension, electricity, water, heating-cooling, turnover share, and tray guarantee fees, until January 31, 2021. We made a 50% reduction in aviation service fees for this year. We deferred the debts of airlines to Eurocontrol. With the regulation made in the regulation on passenger rights in air transportation, we postponed ticket refund payments to two months after the resumption of flights. We minimized the difficulties experienced in the sector.”
“Support for the sector continues”
Karaismailoğlu stated that many payments for aircraft services were also deferred until January 31, 2021, and emphasized that support for the sector continues. He said, “During the pandemic, the bills for extending the working hours of airports for international flights carried out by Turkish Airlines for the purpose of evacuating our citizens abroad have been canceled.”
Reminding that all necessary technical arrangements to avoid additional expenses in airline operations were made by the ministry, Karaismailoğlu also mentioned that the validity periods of licenses, authorizations, and certificates were extended.
Highlighting that SSK and tax debts were also deferred for 6 months, Karaismailoğlu stated, “The VAT for passenger transportation services by air was reduced from 18% to 1% until June 30, 2020. Approval was given for the provision of loans for financial support to Eurocontrol member countries and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP). Companies were provided with a breathing space during this period.”
“Technical arrangements increased trust in Turkish civil aviation”
Karaismailoğlu pointed out that the technical arrangements made during the pandemic period have enabled the rapid recovery of the sector during the normalization period and increased trust in Turkish civil aviation.
Karaismailoğlu drew attention to the certification program initiated by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for airports and stated, “This certification has increased the trust in our civil aviation both nationally and internationally, and many international flight destinations have been opened thanks to this trust.”
Karaismailoğlu emphasized that the increase in trust in Turkish civil aviation prevented the stagnation experienced in the aviation sector worldwide from occurring in Turkey, saying, “In just the month of August, while domestic passenger traffic exceeded 5 million 758 thousand at airports serving throughout Turkey, international passenger traffic exceeded 3 million 810 thousand. Thus, the total passenger traffic, including direct transit passengers, was approximately 9 million 574 thousand in that month. This situation alone demonstrates the state of our civil aviation.”
Karaismailoğlu stated that discussions were held with airport and terminal operating companies under public-private partnership and evaluation studies regarding the obligations in their contracts are ongoing.
