Airline stocks hit by prolonged travel demand slump and state aid requirement claims

BA is retiring its Boeing 747s early due to the impact of Covid-19

Leading airline shares fell after it was claimed increased levels of government financial support will be needed to save carriers and demand for airline travel won’t return to pre-Covid crisis levels for another three and a half years.

Global airline passenger demand won’t recover to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels until the end of 2023, and only then if effective vaccines and medicines are available, according to Moody’s Investors Service.