Pressure from European airports as well as other aviation stakeholders has intensified to drop quarantines in favour of an EU-wide passenger testing protocol.

Aviation bodies, including Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have outlined a common framework for pre-departure testing to re-establish freedom of movement in Europe ahead of the upcoming holiday season. This will provide far greater assurance and the ability for cross-border travel, that will enable travellers to plan family reunions or vacations. ACI Europe has also underlined this will serve as a lifeline to the millions of workers in the travel and tourism sectors whose jobs remain at risk.

All three organisations state unequivocally that a common testing protocol would further reduce transmission risks, restore confidence among the travelling public and protect livelihoods by allowing the travel and tourism sectors to begin their recovery.

The proposed framework is based on two overarching principles: Quarantines must be replaced by testing prior to departure – Research has established that 65% of travellers agree that quarantine should not be requried for passengers who test negative for COVID-19. Furthermore, travel restrictions must be coordinated and based on common risk assessment. This supports the risk assessment criteria and the common colour coding system/ mapping of designated areas already proposed by the European Commission, but which is yet to be endorsed and fully implemented by other EU states.

Data from IATA show air traffic to, from and within Europe is down by 66.3% year to date and the latest figures from ACI Europe reveal that as of 27 September passenger traffic in the EU had further plunged to -78%. Following a letter sent to the European Commission President von der Leyen on 17 September calling for action to help prevent the further demise of the industry, industry bodies have now submitted a framework for how an EU-wide testing protocol for travel (EU-TPT) could work.

The associations have reiterated their calls for the Commission and Member States to prioritise the development and implementation of the testing protocol. “We need to learn to live – and travel – with the virus,” the letter said. “Re-establishing the free movement of people and air connectivity across our continent in a safe way must be a priority.”

A testing protocol would allow for passengers to travel in a safe and harmonised way, rather than having their plans disrupted and made uncertain by constantly moving quarantine goal posts.

The letter also highlighted the continually worsening outlook for passenger demand along with crippingly low forward bookings for the winter season – down -80% from 2019. The planning certainty and risk-based safety of a common testing protocol would give European countries an effective way to reduce transmission both in communities and during air travel whilst stimulating the economy.

 

 

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