Governments have been told it is “critical” that Covd-19 tests for travellers must be delivered quickly and at scale.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) also said testing must be cost-effective and not create an economic or logistical barrier to travel.
It follows Takeoff guidance for governments from The International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao), which outlines measures to mitigate the risk of Covid-19 transmission during air travel and the risk of importation via air travel – and says Covid-19 testing should not be a necessary condition for re-opening borders or resuming air services.
Iata says technology for rapid point-of-care PCR (Polymerized Chain Reaction) testing “could be a useful layer of protection” for travellers from countries considered as higher risk and could “potentially remove the need for more burdensome and intrusive measures such as quarantine”.
Director general Alexandre de Juniac said: “Airlines are committed to reducing the risks of Covid-19 transmission via air travel and Covid-19 testing could play an important role. But it must be implemented in line with Icao’s global re-start guidance with the aim of facilitating travel. Speed, scale and accuracy are the most critical performance criteria for testing to be effectively incorporated into the travel process.”
Iata said that, ideally, testing would be required in advance of arrival at the airport and within 24 hours of travel. It said passengers arriving “ready-to-fly” reduces the risk of contagion in the airport and enables early re-accommodation for any traveller who tests positive.
It recommends that testing is carried out at departure if it is required as part of the travel process and said governments would need to mutually recognise test results and data transmission, and regularly evaluate measures.
Iata also said governments should pay for testing to be carried out and that airlines should not be required to repatriate passengers or “punished” fined if they’re unable to travel.
Iata also warned that the airline industry faces a “hard winter” and called on governments around the world to continue providing Covid-19 relief measures.
It said airlines are expected to post a loss of $84.3 billion in 2020 and government financial relief is a “lifeline” to many.
A recent Iata survey found overall airline bookings are down 82% year-on-year compared to June 2019.
Long-haul forward bookings for the first week in November 2020 were 59% below ‘normal levels’, and Iata noted historical trends show about 14% of airline tickets are sold 22 weeks in advance of travel.
Current bookings for November 1-7 show tickets have been sold to only 5% of the 2019 number of passengers.
The survey found that bookings for travel 20 or more days in the future accounted for 29% of bookings made in May 2020, down from 49% in 2019. Similarly, 41% of bookings made in May 2020 were for travel within three days, more than double the 18% in May 2019.
“People are returning to the skies but the horizon of uncertainty of the Covid-19 crisis is extending,” said de Juniac. “Forward bookings are down, and people are hedging their travel bets by booking closer to the time of travel. Airlines in the Northern hemisphere rely on a strong summer season and a predictable booking curve to get them through the lean months. But neither of these conditions are in place and airlines will need continued help from governments to survive a hard winter. Airlines will need much more flexibility to plan schedules around these changing consumer trends. Financial and operational flexibility equals survival.”