IATA hails momentum behind border reopenings but Asia remains an ‘outlier’

INTERNATIONAL. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the increasing momentum towards re-opening of borders and relaxation of travel restrictions, as COVID-19 moves into the endemic phase.

An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 88% of international demand in 2019 as measured by revenue passenger kilometres) revealed the growing access available to vaccinated travellers:

  • 25 markets representing 38% of 2019 international demand are open to vaccinated travellers without quarantine measures or testing requirements—up from 18 markets (28% of 2019 international demand) in mid-February.
  • 38 markets representing 65% of 2019 international demand are open to vaccinated travellers with no quarantine requirements—up from 28 markets (50% of 2019 international demand) in mid-February.

IATA noted that testing and especially quarantine have been major barriers to travel during the pandemic. It added that travel in Asia remains “heavily compromised” by COVID restrictions. While North American and European international traffic rebounded to -42% of their 2019 peaks last year, traffic in Asia Pacific remained at -88%. It noted some progress in the region, with India and Malaysia among the countries recently announcing relaxation of restrictions.

IATA highlighted the regional variations in the degree of openness among key aviation markets

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said: “The world is largely open for travel. As population immunity grows, more governments are managing COVID-19 through surveillance, as they do for other endemic viruses. That is great news for a growing number of destinations that will receive a much-needed economic boost from the upcoming Easter and Northern Summer travel seasons. Asia is the outlier.

“Hopefully recent relaxations including Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines are paving the way towards restoring the freedom to travel that is more broadly enjoyed in other parts of the world.”

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