Airlines call for the lifting of Covid-19 barriers to air travel

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which encompasses a large part of the world’s airlines, renewed its call to eliminate barriers to air travel, at a time when COVID-19 cases are falling and many countries are reducing those restrictions.In a statement, the nearly 300 airlines that are part of IATA called for the end of quarantines and mandatory tests for vaccinated travelers, as well as the withdrawal of travel bans to or from certain territories.

IATA pointed out that the progressive lifting of restrictions is already being noticed in the sector, which in two weeks has seen the demand for tickets increase.On the days around January 25, the demand for tickets was equivalent to 38% of that at the same time in 2019 (IATA prefers to compare the data with the situation prior to the health crisis), while on February 8 it was already approaching half of the pre-pandemic figures (49%).

“The jump in sales comes as more governments announce relaxations of their travel restrictions,” IATA concluded, noting that 18 of the top 50 air markets are now fully open to vaccinated passengers.

The association pointed out that countries such as Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Sweden are part of the group of countries that have recently relaxed their entry requirements, while other important markets still maintain them, such as China, Japan, Russia, Indonesia and Italy.

“Although there is impressive progress, the world is still far from the levels of connectivity it had in 2019,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh, who insisted that restrictions on air travel did not serve to stop the transmission of the coronavirus but had a serious economic impact.

We must learn to live and travel in a world that will have risks related to COVID-19 in the near future,” concluded the manager.