Erratic Covid rules delay airline recovery

Carriers call for an end to curbs on vaccinated travellers

Global airlines on Tuesday wrapped up their first meeting since Covid-19 brought their industry to its knees, voicing optimism about pent-up demand but desperate for governments to harmonise disjointed border rules to avoid slipping back into recession.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which groups 290 airlines, said confusion over travel restrictions were holding back the industry’s fragile recovery after the pandemic plunged air travel into its worst ever downturn.

“People want to fly. We’ve seen strong evidence of that,” said Director General Willie Walsh. “They can’t fly because we have restrictions that are impeding international travel.” IATA expects international travel to double next year compared with the depressed levels seen during the pandemic and reach 44 per cent of pre-crisis 2019 levels. In contrast, domestic travel is tipped to reach 93 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels.

The trade group, which includes dozens of state-owned carriers, blamed that gap on wide variations in entry rules and testing requirements in the top 50 air travel markets.

Even some of the airline and leasing company leaders trying to attend the industry’s annual gathering in Boston were unable to travel or had to carve out extra time for quarantine.

Common protocols

Airlines called for an end to restrictions on vaccinated travellers and for common health protocols at borders, though global coordination in aviation tends to move at a deliberate pace.

“Frankly, governments haven’t made it easy for airlines or for the travelling public to understand what the rules are to fly,” said Joanna Geraghty, president of JetBlue which hosted the gathering.