Following the African Airlines Association’s (AFRAA’s) Aviation Stakeholders’ Convention held on 18-19 May, AFRAA, alongside Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), has issued a statement outlining the measures required to ensure a sustainable recovery of the air travel industry in Africa following the global pandemic.
While organisations in the continent’s aviation ecosystem have demonstrated great resilience thus far they are now urging the relevant authorities and decision-makers to take the necessary steps for a durable restart and recovery of Africa’s air travel industry.
These steps include: harmonisation of travel protocols; accessibility of COVID-19 testing facilities; reduction of high PCR test costs in Africa; faster rollout of Africa’s vaccine campaign; lifting of prohibitive travel restrictions; and the adoption of globally interoperable digital health passes.
The six organisations underline that these steps are key to restoring confidence and rebuilding air traffic without compromising on the health and safety of passengers and staff. Vaccines are highlighted as presenting the most efficient way out of this pandemic when coupled with testing and the current health measures in place, with African states further encouraged to adopt any form of globally interoperable digital health pass or certificate approved by the World Health Organization to seamlessly integrate into testing and travel processes. And with high PCR test costs in some African states, the organisations are also calling for leaders to consider alternative testing protocols for travel that use the more cost-effective rapid diagnostic antigen test.
