Airlines hinge connectivity on open borders, support

World airlines have urged governments to work together to urgently find ways to re-establish global connectivity by re-opening borders, and to continue with relief measures to sustain airlines during the COVID-19 crisis.
 
The airlines, under the aegis of International Air Transport Association (IATA), expressed the industry’s frustration as government policies such as closed borders, travel restrictions, and quarantines continue to annihilate travel demand.
 
This was evident in a disappointing “peak (Northern Hemisphere) summer travel season” that saw minimal improvements compared to the May-June period, as four in five potential travellers stayed home, based on comparisons with the year-ago period.

“No government wants to import COVID-19. Equally, no government should want to see the economic hardships and associated health impacts of mass unemployment.

Successfully getting through this crisis requires careful risk-management with effective measures. If government policies focus on enabling a safe re-start, aviation is well-prepared to deliver. Risk-management is a well-developed discipline that airlines rely on to keep travel safe and secure.”