Flight-tracking images show how skies have emptied because of the coronavirus crisis

Amazing flight-tracking images illustrate the dramatic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on air traffic.

A data analyst from Florida-based Stratos Jet Charters used his Flightradar24 account to take snapshots of air traffic above Britain, Europe, America and Australia on March 1/2 at 9am local time and April 1/2 at 9am local time – and the difference is marked.

The maps show a dramatic emptying of the skies.

Amazing flight-tracking images illustrate the dramatic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on air traffic

British Airways announced it would suspend around 80 per cent of its cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff to see it through the worst crisis in its history

They emerged as British Airways announced it would suspend around 80 per cent of its cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff to see it through the worst crisis in its history.

Owned by IAG, one of the largest and most financially robust airline companies in the world, British Airways has already said it is in a fight for survival. 

IAG, which owns 598 aircraft across its network, which also includes Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, is cutting capacity by 75 per cent in April and May. BA has already suspended flights from Britain’s second busiest airport, Gatwick, and London’s City Airport. 

Separately, on Thursday, IAG cancelled its final dividend, saving 337 million euros ($366million). The stock had risen on the jobs plan, but was down 0.5 per cent after the dividend decision.

U.S airlines are set to receive $25billion in grants to cover payrolls over the next six months

Airlines worldwide have grounded most of their fleets, and many have said they need government support to survive

Hundreds of companies across a range of sectors have scrapped dividends to conserve cash, but the move by IAG marks a particular blow for investors because it was the third-highest yielding stock by dividend on the UK’s benchmark FTSE 100.

With planes unable to fly because of travel restrictions, compounded by a plunge in demand over fears of contagion, airlines worldwide have grounded most of their fleets, and many have said they need government support to survive.

BA has joined the global industry race to conserve cash. In recent weeks Qantas Airways put two-thirds of its workforce – 20,000 workers – on leave, while Lufthansa applied for short-time work for around 31,000 crew and ground staff at its core brand until the end of August.

In recent weeks Qantas Airways put two-thirds of its workforce – 20,000 workers – on leave

British budget airline easyJet has said it will lay off its 4,000 UK-based cabin crew for two months.

U.S airlines are set to receive $25billion in grants to cover payrolls over the next six months, but are still encouraging workweek reductions, unpaid leave and early retirement as they face more cancellations than bookings.

The companies are trying to avoid making staff redundant so they can respond quickly to any increase in capacity when a recovery comes. 

In Europe, more than 20,000 flights departed or landed on January 23.

Two months later, after Italy emerged as an epicentre for the virus and travel restrictions went into force, flights dropped to fewer than 5,000 per day.