In many cases, airlines won't have to drum up passenger demand because freight carriage on many routes will be enough to cover the cost of the flight - airline freight demand saw a [slump in 2019][1] and the first two months of 2020, but since then it has seen [a huge resurgence as demand has picked up][2].

[Several airlines][3] are [converting passenger aircraft][4] to temporary cargo aircraft (meaning they can carry cargo on the main deck as well as in the cargo hold), which shows just what the upsurge is.


  [1]: https://www.traveldailymedia.com/2019-worst-year-for-air-freight-demand-since-2009/
  [2]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willhorton1/2020/03/31/cargo-aircraft-roar-to-life-reaching-record-utilization-as-coronavirus-creates-urgent-demand-for-air-freight/#5cea9ac5bdd7
  [3]: https://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/nieuws/categorie/2/airlines/finnair-bouwt-airbus-a350s-om-tot-vrachtvliegtuig
  [4]: https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-air-canada-converting-three-boeing-777s-to-cargo-only-2020-4?r=AU&IR=T#the-conversions-are-being-performed-by-avianor-at-the-firms-facility-at-montreals-mirabel-airport-the-cabin-reconfiguration-specialist-designed-and-implemented-the-concept-in-six-days-quickly-clearing-it-with-canadas-aviation-regulator-transport-canada-5