In general, it is known for at least a decade now that air travel has the potential to be a significant driver in the spread of airborne diseases…. In the long run, the impact of Covid-19 on the global air transport system seems to be more profound on the international market. Such a shift from international to domestic transportation brings challenges to airlines, particularly regarding aircraft usage, which can make the aircraft fleet a decisive factor for airline survival.
Other notable examples for reactions of countries are those of Germany and Great Britain, who apparently enforced the resumption of international flights, through their flagship carriers Lufthansa and British Airways.
Notably, cargo flights were not affected significantly, given the need to transport medical equipment and the ambition to keep exchange of critical goods across borders alive. A further analysis of the global networks of FedEx, UPS and DHL, using network science tools, found that after short fluctuations in early stages, these integrators seem to have survived the pandemic rather unaffected.
From ‘Covid-19 Pandemic and Air Transportation: Successfully Navigating the Paper Hurricane’, ScienceDirect