I work for Fedex, which happens to have one of the biggest air fleets in the world, so you can imagine this is crippling. For is, UPS,DHL etc. Ours is 100% air frieght.
Air flight is almost a neccesary evil,and the average person does not realise how much they are affected by this, until its halt starts to take effect.
Passenger flights are subsidised by the cargo capacity of the aircraft. So the 2 industries need each other.

There are appeals left right and centre now from the passenger carriers to get flights going again now. But personally I would stick with caution rather than hurried return to travel.

Im sure the first day back will seem rather noisy.
If you want to know when that will be, watch http://www.nats.co.uk