PARIS – Airbus reported 481 million euros in losses in the first quarter, put thousands of workers on furlough and sought billions in loans to survive the coronavirus crisis – and its CEO said Wednesday the aviation industry’s unprecedented troubles are still at an “early stage.” Even after virus-related travel restrictions eventually ease, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury acknowledged it will take a long time to persuade customers to get back on planes.
Just how long, he can’t predict. Airbus executives expressed hope Wednesday that jet deliveries stalled by the virus could start picking up in the second half of the year.