International Air Transport Association proposes screening all air travelers for COVID-19
Flying Without the Fear of COVID-19: IATA's Proposal for Pre-Flight Testing
Hopping on a plane and jetting off to your dream destination seems like a distant memory for many, thanks to the global pandemic. To bring back some semblance of normalcy to air travel, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has proposed a solution: pre-flight COVID-19 testing for all international flights.
IATA's Director General, Alexandre de Juniac, emphasized this point during a recent briefing, as reported by Almaty.tv, citing Tengrinews.kz. According to de Juniac, swifter and wallet-friendly tests suitable for administration by non-medical personnel are set to hit the market in the coming days, and these should be implemented according to universally recognized norms.
De Juniac was firm in his belief: "We don't see a simpler or more effective alternative solution," he commented.
Remember the days when booking a flight was as easy as a breeze? IATA already predicted back in July that global passenger air transport wouldn't touch its pre-crisis levels until 2024. And in June, the association predicted a staggering $84 billion in record losses for the airline industry in 2020 due to the coronavirus, with a slight improvement to $15.8 billion in losses expected in 2021.
As for the proposed testing, it's essential to note that we're still playing catch-up. There's no set global standard for COVID-19 testing before international flights, with various countries and airlines adopting their own policies when it comes to masks, testing, and vaccination proof. For instance, TAP Air Portugal demands passengers to present negative COVID-19 test results prior to flights to Portugal.
Understanding this diverse landscape, IATA is advocating for the implementation of digital health passes like the IATA Travel Pass. These digital passes could streamline the process by providing real-time vaccination or test status, making international travel easier and less daunting. This aligns with the broader trend of countries implementing their own requirements for negative COVID-19 tests or proof of vaccination for international travel.
In a nutshell, while universal standards for pre-flight COVID-19 testing are yet to be established, IATA is keen on promoting digital solutions to manage health documentation efficiently. Now, let's hope for smoother skies and brighter horizons!
- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has agreed to implement swifter and cost-effective COVID-19 tests in the near future as a pre-flight requirement for international flights.
- IATA believes that the implementation of pre-flight testing, in conjunction with digital health passes, could help restore normalcy to air travel and ease the fear of COVID-19 among passengers.
- The proposed pre-flight testing is an important step for addressing medical-conditions related to the coronavirus, particularly in the context of health-and-wellness and lifestyle choices that require travel.
- In the science-driven approach to travel safety, IATA has witnessed the impact of the coronavirus on the travel industry, predicting that global air transport won't return to pre-crisis levels until 2024.
- The IATA Travel Pass, a digital health pass, could help streamline the pre-flight testing process, giving passengers an easier and less overwhelming travel experience as they navigate the new lifestyle and health-and-wellness requirements associated with international travel in the face of the coronavirus.
