LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - European airlines on Tuesday
called on governments to draw up a package of measures including
deferring taxes to rescue the struggling industry as the crisis
caused by the coronavirus pandemic deepens.
In an open letter to EU transport ministers ahead a
ministerial meeting on Wednesday, the European airlines industry
group A4A said Brussels should extend until October the
suspension of a rule requiring airlines to run most of their
scheduled services or else forfeit landing slots.
It also asked authorities to defer air traffic control (ATC)
charges and aviation taxes.
"In order to ensure that as many airlines as possible
survive the present difficulties and can help drive the economic
recovery when restrictions related to the virus are lifted, a
comprehensive package of measures is urgently required," it
said.
(Reporting by Sarah Young;
Writing by Josephine Mason;
Editing by Louise Heavens)