The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced on Wednesday that it predicts 2021 air traffic levels will reach 50% of 2019 levels but warned that even that could be a challenge. In IATA's worst-case scenario, 2021 travel by air will amount to 38% of pre-coronavirus pandemic levels seen in 2019, rising only 13% from 2020.

The organization added that further travel restrictions and new COVID-19 variants pose downside risks to its forecast. Additionally, IATA called on governments to help airlines deal with the crisis.

"I don’t think anyone sees a world free of COVID-19 anytime soon… even within this year," IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac stated.