ICAO council approved the Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis ( Takeoff ). International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) has asked and governments to implement the guidelines to restore air connectivity as soon as possible.
These guidelines are authoritative and comprehensive framework of risk-based temporary measures for air transport operations during the COVID-19 crisis. These guidelines propose a phased approach to restating aviation industry and identifies a set of general applicable risk-based measures.
The universal implementation of global standards has made aviation safe. A similar approach is critical in this crisis so that we can safely restore air connectivity as borders and economies re-open. The Takeoff guidance document was built with the best expertise of government and industry. Airlines strongly support it. Now we are counting on governments to implement the recommendations quickly, because the world wants to travel again and needs airlines to play a key role in the economic recovery. And we must do this with global harmonization and mutual recognition of efforts to earn the confidence of travelers and air transport workers.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
The guidelines created by the council is in line with the public health authorities, which is based on recommendation and guidance by them. By adhering to these restrictions and actions , the risk of COVID-19 through out the air travel process can be mitigated immensely.
The measures in the guidelines include Physical distancing, Wearing of face coverings and masks, Routine sanitation and disinfection of all areas, Health screening, Contact tracing of passengers and staff, Passenger health declaration forms and Testing.
COVID-19 Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) is a group of international aviation based associations who developed the guidelines. With it the task force has provided reports to the ICAO Council Members as it is the reporting body for the task force.
The Report notes that COVID-19 risk mitigation measures, “should be flexible and targeted to ensure that a vibrant and competitive global aviation sector will drive the economic recovery.” With it CART also highlighted that it is of “paramount importance to avoid a global patchwork of incompatible [aviation] health safety measures.”
Feature image by Munich Airport
