It’s also possible that airlines have adapted their strategies to use extra passenger planes for cargo when the aircraft would otherwise be idle, boosting aircraft utilization and potentially cutting into the market share owned by cargo operators.
We have even seen some unconventional cargo aircraft arise from this pandemic. Earlier this year, Brazil’s Azul made the first passenger-to-cargo conversion of an Embraer E-Jet, which also made the aircraft the first all-cargo E-Jet in the world.
Ultimately, this vaccine announcement represents a bright light at the end of what has so far been a long, dark tunnel for airlines and indeed the entire travel and hospitality industries. There is no doubt still a long way to go as airlines, governments and other companies around the world mobilize to distribute this vaccine as soon as possible. But, if nothing else, there is now proof that recovery is on the horizon, and that is certainly cause for optimism.
