- The world's airports are being converted into storage facilities for aircraft as airlines drastically reduce their operations.
- Frankfurt Airport, Copenhagen's Kastrup Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, among others, have closed runways and taxiways to store excess aircraft from major airlines.
- US airlines are also flying their aircraft across the continent for favorable storage conditions found in the southern region of the country.
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Nick Oxford/Reuters
The impact of the coronavirus has seen thousands of planes restricted to terra firma for the time being and space is becoming limited. Some US airlines are sending their planes to temporary homes in the desert designed for long-term aircraft storage .
What once were major international transit hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Frankfurt Airport are now storage areas for the aircraft of their tenants as space is more useful as a parking lot than a runway
A stark reduction in the demand for travel combined with government travel bans have crippled the airline industry and forced their aircraft to sit idle on the ground instead of in the air where they belong. Some airlines are temporarily closing up shop entirely .
Aircraft still flying are largely going empty as travelers are canceling their bookings en masse for fear of contracting the virus or being stranded as more countries continue to close their borders and airlines unpredictably change their flying schedules.
Take a look at how the world's airports have transformed into storage facilities.
See Also:
- 55 global airlines have completely stopped flying scheduled flights due to travel bans, airspace closures, and low demand for travel see the full list
- The history of Silver Airways, Florida's regional carrier which says it's in 'dire need' of a bailout to survive the coronavirus crisis
- One of London's airports will shut down for at least a month as the coronavirus ravages the air-travel industry
SEE ALSO: 11 air traffic control centers have been temporarily closed after workers tested positive for coronavirus, highlighting a vulnerability in air travel