The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently released the results of its July Business Confidence Survey showing expectations from aviation industry players on the fate of the industry amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Its July 2020 survey of airline CFOs and heads of cargo, 42% said they expect the timing of recovery to 2019 levels longer than 24 months; 39% said recovery could come in 12 to 24 months; while only 19% of respondents said the return of demand to pre-COVID-19 levels would happen in six to 12 months.

The same survey found that airline CFOs and heads of cargo expect the Asia Pacific to be the region to return to 2019 levels first at 42%, followed by Europe (35%), Middle East (10%) and North America and Africa both at 6%. 

Meanwhile, the same study found that aviation industry players expect North America to recover last with 39% of the respondents saying so, followed by Latin America (26%), Africa (13%), Middle East (10%) and Europe and Asia.