While it is still going to take months, if not years before COVID vaccination effect is noticed in larger part of the world, travel industry by large has been advocating pre-departure tests as a safer means to resumption of international travel. Now recent announcements in UK and US have been largely welcomed as a positive step in this direction. Travel without quarantine is deemed to be a major push towards recovery of brutally bruised travel industry and recent announcements pave the way for it.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the announcement by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that it will require all travelers to the US to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test undertaken within three days prior to their departure to the US, effective 26 January.
“Systematic pre-departure testing is key to giving governments confidence to reopen markets without quarantine. Testing will ensure that at current infection levels, aviation will not become a meaningful vector of new transmissions in the US. Furthermore, IATA traveler surveys show that passengers strongly support and are willing to undergo testing,” said Douglas Lavin, IATA’s Vice President Member and External Relations, North America.
IATA is encouraged by the flexibility shown by CDC in this order, in terms of accepting both antigen and PCR testing and in providing passengers who have already had COVID-19 the ability to demonstrate they are immune.
“As the efficacy of testing is confirmed, we need to move quickly to next steps—lifting travel restrictions which prevent travel from Europe and other key markets and removing quarantine requirements imposed by state and local governments in the US,” said Lavin.
IATA is developing the IATA Travel Pass (ITP), a mobile app to manage information flows around requirements for COVID-19 testing and/or vaccine/immunity information. The ITP will enable travelers to receive and securely store encrypted data on their own mobile devices, including verified test or vaccination results, and to share this information with airlines and authorities. IATA urged the US government to make provision to accept test and immunity documents shared electronically via the ITP.
“While this order presents operational challenges, we will continue to work with CDC to achieve a smooth implementation. It definitely is a big step in the right direction,” said Lavin.
Meanwhile, Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO has welcomed a major step by the UK government which opens the doors to travellers arriving into England with proof of a negative COVID-19 test, no matter what the type of test they take.
“Giving equal validity to every COVID-19 test takes away the concern travellers may have that their test may not be accepted and thus face the prospect of being forced into an unnecessary quarantine.
“It also means tests of every type will be more affordable and accessible for travellers seeking to enter the UK safely, with proof of a negative test, and further reduce the risk of exporting the virus.
“This action compliments similar action taken in the US – and many other countries around the world – which have introduced an ‘open door’ policy to get safe travel moving with acceptable pre-boarding COVID-19 negative tests, such as PCR and rapid antigen tests.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.