Airlines around the world are scrambling for space to park their aircraft as the coronavirus outbreak brings passenger flights to a halt.
The number of planes in storage around the world has reached 8,500 since the beginning of 2020, with the biggest number of jets parked in Europe, according to data from aviation research firm Cirium.
The Middle East is hosting nearly 700 stored aircraft at about 30 locations, Cirium said in its latest report.
Tracking storage locations shows Europe has the largest share with about 2,800 aircraft across 210 airports. Asia-Pacific has just over 2,000 aircraft at more than 150 locations, while the latest figures for North America are 1,600 jets at 130 locations.
Asked if there is sufficient storage space for airlines to park their jets, Alexandre de Juniac, director general of International Air Transport Association, said: "It creates issues, we have to close runways and convert it to parking space," adding that airports and airlines co-ordinate plans.
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Swiss International Air Lines aircraft are parked on the tarmac at the airport in Zurich, Switzerland. EPA -
Brussels Airlines planes stand on the tarmac at Brussels Airport, after the suspension of more than 2/3 of the flights of Brussels Airlines, in Zaventem. AFP -
Commercial aircrafts remain at the tarmac of closed Jorge Newbery airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AFP -
Scoot and Singapore Airlines planes sit on the tarmac, as airlines reduce flights following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Singapore's Changi Airport. Reuters -
A Singapore Airlines flight goes past some Jetstar planes parked at the tarmac of Changi Airport in Singapore. Getty Images -
Emirates' aircrafts are pictured grounded at Dubai international Airport in Dubai after Emirates suspended all passenger operations. AFP -
Cathay Pacific aircraft are seen parked on the tarmac at the airport, following the outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Hong Kong. Reuters -
Korean Air's passenger planes are parked on the tarmac at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea. Reuters -
AirAsia aircraft are parked on the tarmac at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 in Sepang, Malaysia. EPA -
Planes of the German carrier Lufthansa are parked on a closed runway at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Reuters -
Aircrafts of China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines are seen on the tarmac at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China. Reuters
The aviation industry is approaching the milestone of one third of the global fleet in storage, which is the equivalent of about 8,800 passenger jets, according to Cirium.
Airlines across the globe are grounding planes as tighter travel restrictions and border closures were put in place to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
Facing a liquidity crisis, many airlines said they are seeking government support to survive.
Global airlines will lose $252 billion (Dh925bn) in passenger revenue this year, a 44 per cent drop from 2019, as air travel demand is forecast to plunge 38 per cent in 2020, according to Iata.
As airlines reduce capacity, operators are hunting for space to store their jets. Parking planes at airports is a logistically complex and costly operation.
Furthermore, airlines must ensure the planes are maintained during storage so they can return to service in the best form when passenger flights eventually resume.
The UAE, the region's transit and financial hub, halted all passenger flights starting from March 25 for two weeks, as the Covid-19 outbreak plunges the global aviation industry into a deepening crisis. Its flag carrier Emirates has the world's largest widebody fleet.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it is extending the suspension of all international and domestic passenger flights indefinitely amid heightened precautions to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Kuwait and Jordan have also suspended all flights.
