Governments have already taken steps like waiving “use-it-or-lose-it” slot rules for certain airports, he noted, but IATA wants them to “implement much broader financial support” packages that include direct financial assistance, loans or tax relief. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution.”

On Monday, the trade group representing major U.S. airlines requested almost $60 billion in grants and loans, as well as tax relief, saying the industry is facing a situation “much worse” than after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

So far, the administration appears to be readying a stimulus plan worth at least $850 billion. Nothing is set in stone, but it will include around $50 billion for the U.S. airline industry, likely a combination of direct assistance and loan guarantees.

“If we want to maintain a strong [global] airline sector able to cope with this difficult crisis, but able also to provide the resources to ensure that the recovery will happen in due time … we need government to act strongly and quickly,” de Juniac said Tuesday, also warning that the crisis may lead to consolidation.

Brian Pearce, IATA’s chief economist, said the outbreak is “covering markets which represent … 94 percent of global passenger revenue, so this is now impacting the entirety of air transport.”

“In many cases, demand … for the business of many airlines has fallen to zero,” Pearce said, adding that new travel restrictions are exacerbating damage already caused by the outbreak.

Earlier this month, IATA said there could be up to $113 billion in passenger revenue losses this year worldwide. The group didn’t provide an updated estimate Tuesday, but Pearce said the numbers are “clearly worse than this, particularly in Europe and particularly in the Americas.”