(Bloomberg) -- TUI AG's Chinese unit will restart its travel business, offering trips and flights within the country to local customers.
The business is resuming after the government lifted a three-month sales ban, and operations will gradually be expanded amid a backlog of demand by Chinese customers, Chief Executive Officer Fritz Joussen said in a statement.
Global travel has been disrupted by the coronavirus crisis and airlines are expected to burn through as much as $61 billion in the second quarter, according to the International Air Transport Association. Joussen said tourism in Europe needs a “clear perspective,” and that European Union nations should develop timetables for flights within the region.
TUI's online traffic is at 90% of last year's level, signaling there's high demand, the CEO said. Customers shouldn't be limited to trips at home and countries that made good progress in the battle against the virus could be reopened for tourism, he said.
“We need to get out of the crisis now,” Joussen said.
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