Tag Archives: IATA

Indian carrier IndiGo has partnered with IATA to launch a pilot project for the IATA Travel Pass. The Pass (a mobile App) will enable travellers to create a digital passport where they can share their test and vaccination certificates, to meet the SOPs of the destination they are travelling to. The pilot project will begin in the country from August 20. The IATA Travel Pass will also enable authorised labs and test centres to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced passenger demand performance for June 2021, which shows total demand for air travel in June 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 60.1% compared to June 2019. The pandemic resurgence weighed also on passenger recovery in India and Japan – with both markets reporting RPKs only at ~30% of the pre-crisis levels.

Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Deputy Director General and Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, believes that vaccination and testing have a role to play in the recovery of international travel, and it is not sustainable to maintain a ‘zero caseload’ approach. He says, “It is not an option to wait for vaccines to be widely available before reopening borders. The global vaccine roll-out is likely to take time.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that based on its latest passenger survey, most air travellers are confident about the safety of air travel and support mask-wearing in the near-term. In fact, 65% air travellers agree that the air on an aircraft is as clean as that in an operating room (OR).

In its latest survey that talks about travel trends, IATA reveals that 85% respondents say they will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at the destination. The survey also reveals that travellers, though keen, are still willing to wait at least a month or two before resuming travel.

Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, has said, “Data must drive global restart policies that manage COVID-19 risks while reviving livelihoods and boosting economies.” He adds that travel cannot be restricted only to those who are vaccinated because data suggests that testing, not quarantine, is the solution. Screening can keep COVID-19 importation at manageable levels.

Willie Walsh, Director General, International Air Transport Association (IATA), speaking at the ATM 2021, said that the aviation industry will take time to repair their balance sheets. “Airlines are not going to be able to take the risk of operating unprofitable routes in the short term,” he said. He also warned that while those airlines that survive would fill the gaps left by those that fail, they would have to be careful how quickly they rebuild.

IATA has said that it supports the unrestricted access to travel for vaccinated travellers as a growing number of countries make data and evidence-driven decisions to open their borders to them. In cases where vaccination is not possible, access to quarantine-free travel should be provided through COVID-19 testing strategies based on widely available, free-of-charge tests, the Associations suggests.

The IATA and Harvard ManageMentor course allows aviation professionals to quickly learn and apply new skills that are up-to-date and relevant in the industry. This programme, developed by aviation leaders and Harvard’s world-class experts, will not only foster leadership skills but will also prepare aspirants for real-world challenges as the industry restarts. The course is available at up to 40% discount on registration until June 7, 2021.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Willie Walsh has officially taken on the role of Director General of the organization. He succeeds Alexandre de Juniac. “I am passionate about our industry and about the critical work that IATA does on behalf of its members, never more so than during the COVID-19 crisis. IATA has been at the forefront of efforts to restart global connectivity, including developing the IATA Travel Pass. Less visible but of equal importance, airlines continue to rely on IATA’s financial settlement systems, Timatic and other vital services to support their day-to-day operations. I am grateful to Alexandre for leaving behind a strong organization and a motivated team. Together, the IATA team is absolutely focused on restoring the freedom of movement that airlines provide to billions of people around the world. That means your freedom to visit friends and family, to meet critical business partners, to secure and retain vital contracts, and to explore our wonderful planet,” said Walsh.