Governments should step away from quarantine and towards pre-flight mass testing in the fight to contain Covid-19, the chief executive of the International Air Transport Association has argued.
It was only then that international travel could resume, said Alexandre de Juniac.
We need to work together, there needs to be good coordination between the players, airlines, hotels, tourist boards and, of course, governments.
Border closures mean that traffic has stopped, particularly in the case of quarantine.
Quarantine is a blocking point for restarting international aviation traffic.
"We need to convince governments, all of us in the travel industry, that the quarantine should be removed."
He added: "But we do understand that a state needs to ensure the safety of its people, so we suggest that all departure passengers be systematically tested."
Those who test positive will not fly, and those who test negative will be allowed to fly.
"People will be ready for testing, passengers will be back, and they will be prepared to travel."
De Juniac argued that technology had progressed to a point where pre-flight mass testing, which was not the case earlier in the year, was now feasible.
This was now a feasible alternative to reopening borders, he said, with experiments costing as little as $6 a piece, and results in minutes.
"Testing will enable us to have transmission levels so low that it is possible to control the pandemic," de Juniac said.
With IATA finding that airlines are currently forecast to lose about $85 billion this year, timing was also critical.
Compared to last year, traffic is expected to decline by 65 per cent.
In response, de Juniac called for the aviation sector to be better assisted.
"We need government intervention, or we're going to die," he said plainly.
This can take the form of regulatory relief, such as a waiver on the use of airport slots, even though they are not used.
Cost reductions, the elimination of taxes, or overflight fees, for example, can occur.
But substantial financial support is still needed; governments have pumped tremendous sums of capital into our sector, but more support is needed.
"Without that, we're not going to have enough cash to get through the crisis."
At the Future Hospitality Summit, a hybrid virtual conference created to discuss big ideas and resolve the issues facing the hospitality industry, de de Juniac spoke and will take place over the next two days in Riyadh.
The festival, which promises to be one of the hospitality community's most impactful events, will be presented by Bench Digital on a cutting-edge event platform.
It will provide all participants with an interactive live experience, including a virtual display, one-to-one video networking and integrated chat features.
More Info
The Future Hospitality Summit is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and the G20 Saudi Secretariat as part of the G20 Saudi Presidency 2020 International Conference Program.
On the official website, you will find out more.
TripNumbers is designed to help you plan a better holiday by collecting travel costs for different destinations around the world. If you're travelling on a budget or looking to splurge in a luxurious resort, TripNumbers can help you understand how to get the most out of your money.
No comments:
New comments are not allowed.