ACI, IATA seeks to eliminate passenger quarantine with COVID-19 testing

The Airports Council International (ACI) World and International Air Transport Association (IATA) have joined hands to replace the quarantine measures with strict pre-COVID-19 testing in passengers before boarding in the hope for a fast-track recovery of air travel.

“A systematic approach to COVID-19 testing will provide an effective way to give governments the confidence to re-open borders without quarantine,” the ACI and IATA in a joint statement said.

The travel restriction and temporary close to air transport services due to the pandemic have created about 4.8 million job losses or threats in the industry. The ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira stated that airports and airlines have come together intending to regain the passengers’ faith, stop border closures and remove the quarantine measures by implementing a uniform COVID-19 testing system.

Mr. Luis Felipe further added that the proposed testing approach will help the airports, airlines and the travel and tourism sectors to get back into normal business, which in turn will protect the jobs. Also, it will provide the economic and social benefits to the local, national and global passengers to which the industry is delivering its services.

The aviation industry has worked with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART), which includes the World Health Organization (WHO), to agree and implement a “layered approach” to health measures amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“Systematic testing is the key to restoring connectivity. That’s critical because millions of jobs depend on aviation. And millions of more travelers want and need to reconnect with family, take a hard-earned vacation or support their international business needs.”

“The world has to learn to live with this pandemic and it includes safely removing travel restrictions. And trials around the globe are affirming to us that we have effective testing technology that can be efficiently integrated into regaining the travel process,” Mr Juniac added.