IATA has asked governments to cooperate with the air transport industry

“The implementation of the vaccination programs allows us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Turning this vision into a safe and orderly restart will require careful planning and coordination by governments and industry” stated its Managing Director and CEO Alexandre de Juniac.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to cooperate with the air transport industry in developing a plan to ensure the safe resumption of air connectivity for people, businesses and economies. when the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 allows it.
For this, it is a priority to accelerate the implementation of global vaccination and testing standards. “The implementation of the vaccination programs allows us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Turning this vision into a safe and orderly reboot will require careful planning and coordination by governments and industry – a huge challenge amid an outlook in which the priority, in the coming weeks, will be to contain the spread of new variants of the virus. But even if the crisis worsens, it is important to prepare the way for the resumption of flights when the epidemiological situation allows it. Understanding the goals of governments and agreeing on the global standards needed to support a return to normal travel will ensure that air travel is well prepared and not a significant vector of spread. The airlines are ready to support governments in this task, ”said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Principles: When governments focus on restoring global air connectivity, IATA will be ready to partner with them and facilitate a coherent, efficient and effective global approach. Governments are already moving towards principles with testing and vaccination programs that could lay the groundwork for global harmonization.
These are:
• Vaccination: Most governments have implemented a vaccination strategy with the aim of first protecting health workers and vulnerable populations. IATA supports the reopening of borders for travel when this has been achieved and thus the greatest risks have been minimized.
• Vaccinated people: Last week, the Greek government proposed that vaccinated people be exempted from travel restrictions, including quarantine. IATA supports the initiatives of countries such as Poland, Latvia, Lebanon and Seychelles in this regard.
• Diagnostic testing: Many governments are implementing diagnostic testing regimes to facilitate travel, which IATA supports. Germany and the United States, for example, are taking advantage of rapidly advancing technology in diagnostic testing to accept PCR and antigen testing for safe risk management of 2 From Light at End of Tunnel to Restart. Travel -Resumption Plans Require Cooperation with Governments to travel. While rapid antigen tests are the most widely accepted for their speed of diagnosis and lower cost, PCR tests continue to play an important role, as many governments require tests to be performed within 48 to 72 hours before travelling.
• Crews: The ICAO CART guide recommends that crews be exempt from the tests and restrictions that are required of passengers. IATA supports health management protocols for crews, which include, among others, regular tests and health checks at the operational bases, along with stricter regulations that limit interaction with local communities during stopovers, some measures that make it easier for airlines to manage COVID-19 risks while maintaining the viability of operations.
• Miscellaneous biosecurity measures: ICAO recommendations on various biosecurity measures (including mask use) are being implemented globally. IATA supports such measures and their application to all passengers until the epidemiological situation allows their application to be reduced.

“There are many variables involved in this equation. The number of people vaccinated and the availability of tests are key. Airlines have adapted their operations in order to maintain cargo and some passenger services, while trying to comply with the many restrictions imposed and the prevailing lack of coordination. This experience should help governments plan a safe resumption of air connectivity for all citizens, businesses and economies, ”said De Juniac.

Behind all the scenarios for the reestablishment of air connectivity lies the development of global standards so that all travelers can meet the requirements of the destination country regardless of the country of origin. The fundamental global standards that are being developed are:
• Vaccination certificate: WHO is leading efforts to establish the necessary standards for the electronic recording of vaccination information, essential for the resumption of international travel. The smart vaccination certificate will be the electronic substitute for the international classical vaccination card (yellow card), used for the certification of vaccines such as yellow fever.
• Global framework for tests: The OECD is building the foundation for a global framework for the approval and mutual recognition of tests and results that increases governments’ confidence in diagnostic tests. The urgency of this framework has become apparent after the recent suspension of flights between the United Arab Emirates and Denmark due to the former’s testing regime. A reliable framework will prevent the lack of recognition of testing regimes among different governments from affecting travelers. The harmonization of test certificates is another essential objective.
• Electronic Travel Credential (DTC): ICAO has published a series of standards to create a DTC from the electronic passport. In addition to facilitating 3 From the Light at the End of the Tunnel to the Resumption of Trips – Resumption Plans Require Cooperation with Governments Contactless travel, as recommended by ICAO CART guidelines, the travel credential is an essential component to associate electronically to travelers with their vaccination certificates and tests. The standard exists and the challenge now is its implementation.

“As we have seen, unilateral government decisions are very effective in preventing global mobility. However, the restoration of freedom to travel can only be achieved with cooperation. Governments are already realizing the great challenge of doing so without adopting global standards on vaccines and testing. This highlights the urgency of the work being done by WHO, OECD and ICAO. IATA participates in these initiatives and is willing to collaborate with governments in their implementation, ”said De Juniac.

IATA is building the information infrastructure for a secure resumption of travel with Travel Pass, an industry initiative that will help governments, airlines and travelers manage testing and vaccination requirements with accurate information, secure identification and data verification. . This industry-backed initiative will be cost-effective, protect privacy, and adhere to global standards. The first Travel Pass pilot program in a real travel situation was launched with Singapore Airlines in December 2020. A growing list of airlines confirm their intention to use Travel Pass, including IAG, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.

“Drawing on our deep experience in driving transformative changes in global air travel, we are convinced that the IATA Travel Pass will be essential support for governments in managing vaccination and testing data to facilitate safe travel. . But the success of any solution that is developed will depend on the cooperation of governments and trust with each other. Air transport built its reputation for safety by cooperating with governments to ensure transparent universal standards. That is a compelling example of how industry and governments can work together to reconnect the world using the opportunities provided by testing and the advancement of vaccination” De Juniac said.