News
IATA, ACI joint paper outlines roadmap for restart of global flying
May 22nd 2020
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International World (ACI) have jointly issued a roadmap for restarting aviation that also aims to minimise the spread of COVID-19. Read More »
Published this week, the two global associations called for coordination between government, airlines and airports in tackling the biggest challenge commercial aviation has ever faced.
“There is currently no single measure that could mitigate all the risks of restarting air travel, but we believe a globally consistent, outcome based approach represents the most effective way of balancing risk mitigation with the need to unlock economies and enable travel,” ACI World director general, Angela Gittens, said in a statement.
The bulk of the commercial aviation fleet, or an estimated 17,000 aircraft, has been grounded as COVID-19 travel restrictions have decimated air passenger demand. Recently published traffic data from various airlines and airports have shown international passenger numbers were down by 99% or more in April.
Additionally, the IATA Board of Governors, comprising 31 airline CEOs, has released five key principles for the eventual resumption of flights as the threat of the pandemic starts to subside.
Published this week, they said aviation would put safety and security first, would respond flexibly as the COVID-19 crisis and science evolved and operate to global standards harmonized and mutually recognized by governments. As well, they said the industry would meet its environmental targets and ensure its importance as a key driver of the economic recovery was recognised.
IATA senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security, Nick Careen, said in a presentation to journalists this week ensuring aviation was not a meaningful vector for the spread of COVID-19 as the industry restarted would mean significant changes across the entire air travel experience, from pre-flight to the departure airport and on board the aircraft, as well as post-flight.
It would require governments to assume broad new responsibilities in assessing and identifying traveller health risks, similar to measures put in place for security risks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Airlines and airports would need to introduce and adapt processes and procedures to minimise contagion risk in the airport and aircraft environments, IATA said.
Passengers must be "empowered to take more control of their travel journey, including responsibly assessing their own level of health risk" before a trip, it said.
"Governments and industry will be required to work together, particularly to ensure the practicable development and implementation of operational measures," Careen said.
"As progress is achieved with additional measures such as effective COVID-19 and immunity testing, new measures can be incorporated into the passenger process to mitigate the risks and build confidence in air travel.
"This will take us further on the journey towards a resumption of ‘normal’ operations," said IATA.
