The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to take "simple, predictable and practical" measures to safely facilitate the intensification of international travel as borders reopen.
Specifically, IATA urged governments to focus on simplified health protocols, digital solutions for processing health accreditations and Covid-19 measures commensurate with risk levels.
"In the coming months, we need to move from individual border openings to rebuilding a global air transport network that can reconnect communities and facilitate economic recovery.", a stated Conrad Clifford, Deputy Director General of IATA.
"More than 100.000 Covid-19-related measures have been implemented by governments around the world. This complexity is a barrier to global mobility, which is exacerbated by the inconsistencies that these measures have created between countries.Said Clifford.
Key recommendations include the removal of all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those completely vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine.
The management of travel health accreditations (vaccination or testing certificates) should also be managed digitally, IATA argued, allowing passengers to complete the process in advance so that they can arrive at the airport ready to travel. This will facilitate automatic check-in processes, reducing queues at the airport and waiting times.
In conclusion, IATA calls for unitary measures at the global level.