IATA calls on governments to work with air transport industry on restart plans

FILE PHOTO: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac in Geneva, Switzerland, March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to partner with the air transport industry to devise plans to safely re-link people, business and economies when the Covid-19 medical situation permits.

It said accelerating the establishment of global standards for vaccination and testing certification is a priority for this critical cooperation.

IATA director general and chief executive officer Alexandre de Juniac said the light at the end of the tunnel could be seen following the roll-out of vaccination programmes, but turning this vision into a safe and orderly re-start would require careful planning and coordination by governments and industry.

"This will be challenging, as the priority for the weeks and months ahead will be containing the spread of new variants.

"But even as the crisis deepens, it is important to prepare the way for a resumption of flights when the epidemiological situation permits,” he said in a statement released on Wednesday night.