Growing momentum in air travel recovery as restrictions are lifted

In a sign that momentum towards normalising air traffic is growing, the European Union countries recently agreed to open their borders to travellers from outside the bloc who have had shots against Covid-19 authorised by the World Health Organisation.Until now, most EU countries have not admitted people from outside the bloc, travelling for non-essential reasons if they have been vaccinated with shots not approved in the EU.The EU decision, which takes effect on March 1, also means easing restrictions on millions of those who have received Indian and Chinese vaccines.The EU has so far authorised vaccines produced by Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca (when produced in Europe), Johnson & Johnson and Novavax.In addition to these shots, the WHO has also approved the vaccines produced by Chinese makers Sinopharm and Sinovac and by Indian company Bharat Biotech. It has also authorised the AstraZeneca vaccine made in India by the Serum Institute.Restrictions will be lifted for travellers who received the final dose of the primary vaccination cycle at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before arrival, Reuters said. Boosted travellers will also be accepted.EU states also agreed to lift a temporary restriction on non-essential travel for people who have recovered from Covid-19 within 180 days prior to travelling to the EU.Airports Council International (ACI) Europe and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the adoption of an EU Council recommendation for external travellers coming into the EU and called for further action to help re-start air connectivity.“We welcome this logical recommendation by the European Council. A vaccinated traveller from outside the EU should be treated no differently to one inside the EU. While we urge Member States to implement this recommendation as an important step towards living normally with this virus, it is important that the EU considers more flexibility on the approved vaccine list,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s regional vice president (Europe).IATA’s recent data show growing momentum in the recovery of air travel as restrictions are lifted. The global body of airlines reported a sharp 11-percentage point increase for international tickets sold in recent weeks (in proportion to 2019 sales).The jump in ticket sales comes as more governments announce a relaxation of Covid-19 border restrictions. An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 92% of global demand in 2019 as measured by revenue passenger kilometres) revealed the growing access available to vaccinated travellers.Some 18 markets (comprising about 20% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travellers without quarantine or pre-departure testing requirements.Some 28 markets are open to vaccinated travellers without quarantine requirements (including the 18 markets noted above). This comprises about 50% of 2019 demand.As many as 37 markets (comprising about 60% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travellers under varying conditions (18 having no restrictions, others requiring testing or quarantine or both).Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said, “Momentum towards normalising traffic is growing. Vaccinated travellers have the potential to travel much more extensively with fewer hassles than even a few weeks ago. This is giving growing numbers of travellers the confidence to buy tickets. And that is good news! Now we need to further accelerate the removal of travel restrictions. “While recent progress is impressive, the world remains far from 2019 levels of connectivity. Thirteen of the top 50 travel markets still do not provide easy access to all vaccinated travellers. That includes major economies like China, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, and Italy.” Obviously, travel restrictions have had a severe impact on people and on economies. They have not, however, stopped the spread of the virus. Industry experts, therefore, argue that it is time for their removal as we learn to live and travel in a world that will have risks of Covid-19 for the foreseeable future. This means putting a stop to the singling out of the travelling population for special measures. “In nearly all cases, travellers don’t bring any more risk to a market than is already there. Many governments have recognised this already and removed restrictions. Many more need to follow,” Walsh added.