Airlines and Airports
Say EU’s New Travel Plan Won’t Revive Flights
Say EU’s New Travel Plan Won’t Revive Flights
By Siddharth Vikram Philip
October 13, 2020, 3:32 PM GMT+1
Industry groups scold
accord struck by European governments
accord struck by European governments
Measures fail to
replace quarantine requirements for travelers
replace quarantine requirements for travelers
Airlines and airports said European Union moves to help
restart flights in the region through a more coordinated approach to
coronavirus-related travel curbs are wholly inadequate.
restart flights in the region through a more coordinated approach to
coronavirus-related travel curbs are wholly inadequate.
The measures, adopted Tuesday, fail to propose the
replacement of quarantine requirements with coronavirus tests and won’t stop
states refusing entry from other EU countries, the International Air Transport
Association said in a joint statement with Airports Council International and
lobby group Airlines4Europe .
replacement of quarantine requirements with coronavirus tests and won’t stop
states refusing entry from other EU countries, the International Air Transport
Association said in a joint statement with Airports Council International and
lobby group Airlines4Europe .
The proposals backed by European Affairs Ministers seek to set a common threshold for entry
restrictions, with unfettered travel allowed between areas with fewer than
25 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people for the previous 14 days, and under
4% of tests showing positive results. None
of the 27 EU states is below that threshold. Neither are the rules binding
on governments.
restrictions, with unfettered travel allowed between areas with fewer than
25 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people for the previous 14 days, and under
4% of tests showing positive results. None
of the 27 EU states is below that threshold. Neither are the rules binding
on governments.
“We are pretty disappointed,” IATA Director General
Alexandre de Juniac said in a webcast briefing. “We were expecting the European
Council at least to be open to replacing quarantines by testing.”
Alexandre de Juniac said in a webcast briefing. “We were expecting the European
Council at least to be open to replacing quarantines by testing.”
IATA also backs the reopening of borders between countries
with similar infection rates and longer delays between the announcement of new
measures and their introduction.
with similar infection rates and longer delays between the announcement of new
measures and their introduction.
Countries across Europe have been sharpening restrictions
after a resurgence in the pandemic, with 700,000 new cases recorded last week,
the most since the start of the outbreak. That grinds against pleas by airlines
to remove curbs they say are stopping people from traveling despite pent up
demand.
after a resurgence in the pandemic, with 700,000 new cases recorded last week,
the most since the start of the outbreak. That grinds against pleas by airlines
to remove curbs they say are stopping people from traveling despite pent up
demand.
De Juniac reiterated calls for further financial support for
airlines and said he expects that some carriers won’t survive the winter at
current occupancy levels. Companies in Latin America and Africa are especially
exposed given a lack of state support there, he said.
airlines and said he expects that some carriers won’t survive the winter at
current occupancy levels. Companies in Latin America and Africa are especially
exposed given a lack of state support there, he said.
ACI head Luis Felipe de Oliveira said he doesn’t expect
government-owned airports to go bust but that privately controlled hubs in
Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America may be vulnerable.
government-owned airports to go bust but that privately controlled hubs in
Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America may be vulnerable.
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