| Beyond the Tarmac |
Nearly half of the world’s top 50 air travel markets are now open to vaccinated travellers without quarantine measures or testing requirements, indicating 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.
Some 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, it reveals.
Some 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.
Repeated surveys of passengers by IATA during the pandemic has shown that testing and especially quarantine are major barriers to travel.
Many European states have already lifted domestic Covid restrictions, such as the need to provide health credentials to enter social events, or the requirement to wear masks in public spaces.
Contact tracing efforts are also being stood down, rendering passenger locator forms (PLFs) for international travel redundant.
As European countries open up and remove restrictions, IATA insists it is only logical to remove similar restrictions from air transport.
Some restrictions, however, still apply to intra-EU and Schengen area travel, which the global body of airlines wants to be dropped.
This includes testing requirements and the need to present proof of vaccination, or complete a passenger locator form.
Travel in Asia still 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%.
Even in this region, however, there has been some progress, with India and Malaysia among the countries recently announcing relaxation of restrictions.
Earlier this month India announced resumption of “scheduled commercial international passenger services” and withdrawal of “air bubble” arrangement from March 27.
The resumption of “scheduled commercial international passenger services” or regular international flights coincides with the start of summer schedule (for international air travel) in India.
Scheduled international flight services have remained suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Malaysia will allow quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated travellers from April 1, ending almost two years of stringent border controls introduced to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
The reopening marks the final step in the lifting of virus curbs, as Malaysia joins other Southeast Asian nations in transiting to the endemic phase of the outbreak.
Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand are among Southeast Asian countries that have waived quarantine, while Indonesia is bringing forward plans to allow quarantine-free entry for foreigners travelling to Bali.
The easing of measures in India, Malaysia and the other major markets surveyed by IATA reflects the growing consensus that travel restrictions such as border closures and quarantine do little to control the spread of Covid-19.
A recent report by OXERA and Edge Health, looking at the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe, concluded that travel restrictions may only delay the peak of a wave by a few days.
“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,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
In a recent statement, IATA said that in an effort to stop the spread of the Omicron variant and due to travel restrictions imposed, the recovery of air data in January 2022 compared to December 2021 has slowed down for both domestic and international air travel.
Meanwhile, the total demand for air travel has increased in January 2022 by 82.3% compared to January 2021, but compared to the previous month; December 2021 has decreased by 4.9%.
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.
Some 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, it reveals.
Some 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.
Repeated surveys of passengers by IATA during the pandemic has shown that testing and especially quarantine are major barriers to travel.
Many European states have already lifted domestic Covid restrictions, such as the need to provide health credentials to enter social events, or the requirement to wear masks in public spaces.
Contact tracing efforts are also being stood down, rendering passenger locator forms (PLFs) for international travel redundant.
As European countries open up and remove restrictions, IATA insists it is only logical to remove similar restrictions from air transport.
Some restrictions, however, still apply to intra-EU and Schengen area travel, which the global body of airlines wants to be dropped.
This includes testing requirements and the need to present proof of vaccination, or complete a passenger locator form.
Travel in Asia still 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%.
Even in this region, however, there has been some progress, with India and Malaysia among the countries recently announcing relaxation of restrictions.
Earlier this month India announced resumption of “scheduled commercial international passenger services” and withdrawal of “air bubble” arrangement from March 27.
The resumption of “scheduled commercial international passenger services” or regular international flights coincides with the start of summer schedule (for international air travel) in India.
Scheduled international flight services have remained suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Malaysia will allow quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated travellers from April 1, ending almost two years of stringent border controls introduced to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
The reopening marks the final step in the lifting of virus curbs, as Malaysia joins other Southeast Asian nations in transiting to the endemic phase of the outbreak.
Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand are among Southeast Asian countries that have waived quarantine, while Indonesia is bringing forward plans to allow quarantine-free entry for foreigners travelling to Bali.
The easing of measures in India, Malaysia and the other major markets surveyed by IATA reflects the growing consensus that travel restrictions such as border closures and quarantine do little to control the spread of Covid-19.
A recent report by OXERA and Edge Health, looking at the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe, concluded that travel restrictions may only delay the peak of a wave by a few days.
“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,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
In a recent statement, IATA said that in an effort to stop the spread of the Omicron variant and due to travel restrictions imposed, the recovery of air data in January 2022 compared to December 2021 has slowed down for both domestic and international air travel.
Meanwhile, the total demand for air travel has increased in January 2022 by 82.3% compared to January 2021, but compared to the previous month; December 2021 has decreased by 4.9%.