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BUSINESS AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL A P R I L 2 0 2 0 |
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Advice & inspiration for coping with Covid-19
The business aviation sector has responded robustly to the coronavirus epidemic. But
keeping operations running with stringent hygiene measures, travel restrictions and a
worsening economic situation will be challenging.
“Communication and flexibility is key during times like this,” said Adam Twidell, CEO
of PrivateFly, which is running twice daily briefings for its staff on the crisis. “It’s not a
question of operating remotely for a few days. You have to establish new ways of working
and operating that could last months,”
Bryan Del Monte, president of The Aviation Agency said, “Be transparent and
communicate with your customers and stakeholders. Ask for help if you need it. Don’t
overreact and have some faith in your ability to survive. There will be a rescue package.”
Small businesses in the USA should register with the Small Business Administration,
which is likely to be the mechanism for aid for smaller companies, added Del Monte.
Patrick Hansen, CEO of Luxaviation Group said, “Keep going, keep working as hard as you
can. Keep talking to your suppliers, your stakeholders, your customers and your employees.
If you don’t do it, assume nothing will get done during this crisis.
“Let’s put our rivalries aside and make sure we come out of the other side of this. Let’s
make our voice heard.”
so badly affected that it does not work anymore, with
aircraft grounded, no support services available and
safety compromised.”
Luxaviation has launched the European Business
Aviation Solidarity Initiative (EBASI) to make the
company’s procurement and administrative resources
available to other business aviation companies for free
(see box Covid-19: More information). The company
has also invited the European Business Aviation
Association (EBAA) to join and run EBASI “when it is
ready and on-board” with the initiative.
Hansen said, “We have resources that smaller
companies don’t, like procurement offices and teams
of people working on how to access government aid in
the different countries we operate in.”
Hansen said he hopes to help small companies
access suppliers so they can continue operating. He
is also trying to set up a fund by June, backed by a
bank and the EBAA to guarantee payments within the
supply chain.
Data demands
The EBAA said it supported solidarity initiatives such
as EBASI, but that it needed to consult its members
and governing bodies before committing to any
specific initiative. The trade association
is taking many actions to help the sector
manage its way through the crisis.
Most recently it partnered with
data analytics company Osprey
Flight Solutions to make real-time
updates on global risk information
related to the Covid-19 outbreak freely
available, so that companies can make
more informed decisions. Osprey’s
dashboard, which can be registered
for online (see box Covid-19: More
information), provides the latest data
on the spread of the virus, overlaid
with Covid-19 related NOTAMs and all
information on travel restrictions.
Athar Husain Khan, secretary
general of the EBAA said, “It’s vital that
we support all of the industry during
this uncertain time. We are working
to alleviate the crisis with coordinated
and concrete measures for the whole
industry, including business airports.
“As an association with more than
700 members, working together is in
our DNA. We need to work together
now more than ever. We are working to
provide guidance, verified information
and to represent the industry.
“We also encourage companies to
consult with their local associations to
leverage their local networks.”
The association has launched
an online resource center (See box
Covid-19: More information) to provide
the latest guidance and information.
Despite the initial increase in activity,
which Husain Khan said showed how
“responsive the sector can be in a
crisis”, since travel restrictions were
introduced EBAA members have been
reporting airport closures and staff
being put on leave.
“It’s harder to work out the long term
impact – we are going through the data
and responding on a daily basis. Just
like for the rest of aviation there will be a
severe impact,” Husain Khan said.
“We are calling on governments
to consider all possible measures,
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