Month: July 2020

Quarantine Measures Threaten Aviation Restart in Africa & the Middle East

Amman – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments in Africa and the Middle East (AME) to implement alternatives to quarantine on arrival that would allow economies to re-start while avoiding the importation of COVID-19 cases.

Government-imposed quarantine measures in 36 countries across Africa and the Middle East (AME) account for 40% of all quarantine measures globally. With over 80% of travelers unwilling to travel when quarantine is required, the impact of these measures is that countries remain in lockdown even if their borders are open.

“It is critical that AME governments implement alternatives to quarantine measures. AME has the highest number of countries in the world with government-imposed quarantine measures on arriving passengers. The region is effectively in complete lockdown with the travel and tourism sector shuttered. This is detrimental in a region where 8.6 million people depend on aviation for their livelihoods,” said Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.

IATA proposes a layering of measures to protect public health while re-starting aviation, focused in two areas:

  • Reducing the risk of imported cases via travelers
    • Discouraging symptomatic passengers from traveling with airlines offering flexibility to passengers who need to adjust their schedule.
    • Public health risk mitigation measures such as health screening by governments in the form of health declarations.
    • COVID-19 testing for travelers from countries perceived to be “higher-risk” when accurate and fast testing is available at scale.
  • Mitigating Risk in Cases Where an Infected Person Does Travel
  • Reducing the risk of transmission during the air travel journey with the implementation of the Take-Off guidelines published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  • Contact tracing to efficiently isolate any traveler who may become symptomatic and infectious after arrival.
  • Reducing risk of transmission at destination through overall government measures to fight the virus.

“Implementing a layered approach should give governments the confidence to open borders without quarantine, and passengers the confidence to fly. Air connectivity is critical to economic and sustainable development in and across AME,” said Albakri.

Effect of COVID-19 on AME 

Economies across AME have been devastated by COVID-19, and the aviation industry has been especially hard-hit. Across the region, more than 8.6 million jobs in the airline industry and those businesses supported by aviation are at risk. Thousands of jobs have already been lost due to the shutdown of air traffic.

The latest assessment from IATA Economics shows that the outlook at national level has worsened for major aviation markets in the region since April. For example, the passenger numbers, airline revenue and jobs at risk impacts for the four biggest AME markets have declined across every metric:

COUNTRY APRIL -PAX DEMAND JUNE – PAX DEMAND APRIL – ARL REVENUE JUNE – ARL REVENUE APRIL – JOBS AT RISK JUNE – JOBS AT RISK
South Africa
-14.5 million
-15.61 million
-3.02 billion
-3.2 billion
– 251,100
-269,900
Nigeria
-4.7 million
-5.32 million
-0.99 billion
-1.1 billion
– 125,400
-139,500
Kenya
-3.5 million
-3.75 million
-0.73 billion
-0.8 billion
– 193,300
– 207,800
Ethiopia
-2.5 million
-2.62 million
-0.43 billion
-0.5 billion
-500,500
– 530,400
Saudi Arabia
-35 million
-36.41 million
-7.2 billion
-7.4 billion
-287,500
– 299,200
UAE
-31 million
-32.33 million
-6.8 billion
-7.1 billion
– 378,700
– 392,900
Egypt
-13 million
-13.79 million
-1.66 billion
-2.3 billion
– 205,560
– 297,200
Qatar
-3.6 million
-1.32 million
-1.7 billion
-1.7 billion
– 53,640
– 72,700
Jordan
-3.5 million
-3.78 million
-0.7 billion
-0.7 billion
– 34,000
– 36,660

Download the full list of selected Africa countries (pdf) full list of selected Middle East countries (pdf)

See AME Media Briefing presentation by Muhammad Ali Albakri, IATA Regional Vice President for Africa & the Middle East

للمزيد من الدول في الشرق الأوسط، اضغط هنا.

 

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 22 770 2967
Email: corpcomms@iata.org

Notes for editors:

  • IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 290 airlines comprising 82% of global air traffic.
  • You can follow us at https://twitter.com/iatafor announcements, policy positions, and other useful industry information.

IATA’s Most RecentTraveler Survey Reveals Global COVID-19 Concerns by Passengers

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released public opinion research showing the willingness to travel being tempered by concerns over the risks of catching COVID-19 during air travel. The industry’s re-start plans address passenger’s main concerns.

Concerns for Travel During COVID-19

Travelers are taking precautions to protect themselves from COVID-19 with 77% saying that they are washing their hands more frequently, 71% avoiding large meetings and 67% having worn a facemask in public. Some 58% of those surveyed said that they have avoided air travel, with 33% suggesting that they will avoid travel in future as a continued measure to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19.

Travelers identified their top three concerns as follows:

At the airport:
1. Being in a crowded bus/train on the way to the aircraft (59%)
2. Queuing at check-in/security/border control or boarding (42%)
3. Using airport restrooms/toilet facilities (38%)
On board Aircraft
1. Sitting next to someone who might be infected (65%)
2. Using restrooms/toilet facilities (42%)
3. Breathing the air on the plane (37%)

When asked to rank the top three measures that would make them feel safer:

– 37% cited COVID-19 screening at departure airports

– 34% agreed with mandatory wearing of facemasks

– 33% noted social distancing measures on aircraft

Passengers themselves displayed a willingness to play a role in keeping flying safe by:

  1. Undergoing temperature checks (43%)
  2. Wearing a mask during travel (42%)
  3. Checking-in online to minimize interactions at the airport (40%)
  4. Taking a COVID-19 test prior to travel (39%)
  5. Sanitizing their seating area (38%).

“People are clearly concerned about COVID-19 when traveling. But they are also reassured by the practical measures being introduced by governments and the industry under the Take-off guidance developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These include mask-wearing, the introduction of contactless technology in travel processes and screening measures. This tells us that we are on the right track to restoring confidence in travel. But it will take time. To have maximum effect, it is critical that governments deploy these measures globally,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

The survey also pointed to some key issues in restoring confidence where the industry will need to communicate the facts more effectively. Travelers’ top on board concerns include:

Cabin air quality: Travelers have not made up their minds about cabin air quality. While 57% of travelers believed that air quality is dangerous, 55% also responded that they understood that it was as clean as the air in a hospital operating theatre. The quality of air in modern aircraft is, in fact, far better than most other enclosed environments. It is exchanged with fresh air every 2-3 minutes, whereas the air in most office buildings is exchanged 2-3 times per hour. Moreover, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters capture well over 99.999% of germs, including the Coronavirus.

Social distancing: Governments advise to wear a mask (or face covering) when social distancing is not possible, as is the case with public transport. This aligns with the expert ICAO Take-off guidance. Additionally, while passengers are sitting in close proximity on board, the cabin air flow is from ceiling to floor. This limits the potential spread of viruses or germs backwards or forwards in the cabin. There are several other natural barriers to the transmission of the virus on board, including the forward orientation of passengers (limiting face-to-face interaction), seatbacks that limit transmission from row-to-row, and the limited movement of passengers in the cabin.

There is no requirement for social distancing measures on board the aircraft from highly respected aviation authorities such as the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency or ICAO.

“It is no secret that passengers have concerns about the risk of transmission onboard. They should be reassured by the many built-in anti-virus features of the air flow system and forward-facing seating arrangements. On top of this, screening before flight and facial coverings are among the extra layers of protection that are being implemented by industry and governments on the advice of ICAO and the World Health Organization. No environment is risk free, but few environments are as controlled as the aircraft cabin. And we need to make sure that travelers understand that,” said de Juniac.

No Quick Solution

While nearly half of those surveyed (45%) indicated the they would return to travel within a few months of the pandemic subsiding, this is a significant drop from the 61% recorded in the April survey. Overall, the survey results demonstrate that people have not lost their taste for travel, but there are blockers to returning to pre-crisis levels of travel:

  • A majority of travelers surveyed plan to return to travel to see family and friends (57%), to vacation (56%) or to do business (55%) as soon as possible after the pandemic subsides.
  • But, 66% said that they would travel less for leisure and business in the post-pandemic world.
  • And 64% indicated that they would postpone travel until economic factors improved (personal and broader).

“This crisis could have a very long shadow. Passengers are telling us that it will take time before they return to their old travel habits. Many airlines are not planning for demand to return to 2019 levels until 2023 or 2024. Numerous governments have responded with financial lifelines and other relief measures at the height of the crisis. As some parts of the world are starting the long road to recovery, it is critical that governments stay engaged. Continued relief measures like alleviation from use-it-or-lose it slot rules, reduced taxes or cost reduction measures will be critical for some time to come,” said de Juniac.

One of the biggest blockers to industry recovery is quarantine. Some 85% of travelers reported concern for being quarantined while traveling, a similar level of concern to those reporting general concern for catching the virus when traveling (84%). And, among the measures that travelers were willing to take in adapting to travel during or after the pandemic, only 17% reported that they were will willing to undergo quarantine.

“Quarantine is a demand killer. Keeping borders closed prolongs the pain by causing economic hardship well beyond airlines. If governments want to re-start their tourism sectors, alternative risk-based measures are needed. Many are built into the ICAO Take-off guidelines, like health screening before departure to discourage symptomatic people from traveling. Airlines are helping this effort with flexible rebooking policies. In these last days we have seen the UK and the EU announce risk-based calculations for opening their borders. And other countries have chosen testing options. Where there is a will to open up, there are ways to do it responsibly,” said de Juniac.

The Survey

The 11-country survey, which was conducted during the first week of June 2020, assessed traveler concerns during the pandemic and the potential timelines for their return to travel. This is the third wave of the survey, with previous waves conducted at the end of February and the beginning of April. All those surveyed had taken at least one flight since July 2019.

For more information:

Corporate Communications

Tel: +41 22 770 2967

Email: corpcomms@iata.org

Notes for Editors:

  • IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 290 airlines comprising 82% of global air traffic.
  • You can follow us at https://twitter.com/iata for announcements, policy positions, and other useful industry information.

Etihad to Resume Flights to 15 Destinations from Mid-July, including Cairo In Africa [IATA Podcast Enclosed]

Etihad is set to add 15 new cities to its flight schedule from Thursday, July 16, meaning it will fly to 40 destinations across the globe next month.

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The airline will operate inbound and outbound flights to several new destinations across Europe, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.

Flights to seven destinations in India make up part of the new flight schedule published on the airline’s website. This includes services to Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. To Europe, the airline is adding flights to five cities, including Manchester, Munich and Istanbul.

Regionally, Etihad will begin flying to Amman in Jordan and Cairo, Egypt. The UAE’s national airline is also set to resume flights from Abu Dhabi to the Maldives. This coincides with tourism reopening in the Indian Ocean archipelago on Wednesday, July 15.

“From 16 July, subject to the lifting of international restrictions and the reopening of individual markets, Etihad Airways plans to expand its current network to cover over 40 global destinations. These will include major gateways in the Middle East, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia,” confirmed an Etihad spokesperson.

Etihad will resume flights to these destinations from Thursday, July 16:

  • Amman   
  • Cairo
  • Dusseldorf
  • Istanbul
  • Manchester
  • Munich
  • Belgrade
  • Bengaluru
  • Kozhikode
  • Mumbai
  • Chennai
  • Hyderabad
  • Kochi
  • Delhi
  • Male

Negative test needed to enter Abu Dhabi airport from other emirates

The new schedule means that Etihad will now be flying to 40 cities worldwide: all routes have received approval from the UAE government.

Passengers are reminded to check the latest travel advice and regulations before booking a flight.

“All travellers must ensure that they meet the required entry, health and quarantine regulations set by the UAE authorities, and those at their destination,” said an Etihad spokesperson.

People flying into Abu Dhabi must have a valid UAE resident visa and ICA approval number before they can book travel.

Etihad’s website originally stated that passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi International Airport from Dubai or other emirates would not need a Covid-19 test to reach the airport. This advice has since been updated and all travellers now need a negative test before they can cross the Abu Dhabi border. “If you are travelling between emirates to reach the airport, you must prove that you have tested negative for Covid-19 within the past 48 hours,” confirmed Etihad.

Online check-in resumes

Etihad has also resumed its online check-in services. Travellers can use this service to check in and select a seat up to 30 hours ahead of a flight.

Some seats will appear unavailable to allow Etihad to follow social distancing guidelines. Travellers can also request seats upon arrival at the airport: check-in at the airport opens three hours ahead of flight times.

Previously, Etihad had suspended online check-in to allow staff to allocate seats to ensure social distancing on flights.

Emirates has recently reopened routes to 48 cities across the world and low-cost carrier Flydubai is taking bookings for flights to 24 destinations.

Dubai [UAE] Travel Update: Covid19 Testing, Travel & Health Insurance for Residents and Tourists Explained

In this pre-travel checklist, we break down the separate Dubai and federal rules and how to exit or enter the UAE

Summer travel is set to soar as pupils finish school, federal travel restrictions are eased and tourists prepare to return to Dubai.

Whether you’re a UAE resident looking to travel abroad or a visitor flying in, there is an important checklist to tick off before you set out.

It is crucial to understand that Dubai, which has its own crisis authority and immigration service, has different rules than the rest of the country.

You should make sure you have researched both the UAE’s travel rules and those of your destination to ensure you aren’t caught out.

Here’s your pre-departure checklist:

I’m a Dubai resident travelling abroad this summer

– Before you book your flight, you should apply to Dubai’s immigration service, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, for permission to return. You will be given a file number which must be entered on your visa. You don’t technically need this to leave the country – but you will need it to return. For peace of mind, you should apply before you go. If you are travelling abroad for more than 30 days, you must apply once you’re abroad and well before your return flight.

– If you are flying with Emirates Airline, you need a GDRFA number to book your outward-bound journey. Other airlines do not require this.

– As a Dubai visa-holder you are not required by the emirate’s government or airlines to be tested for Covid before you fly. This is the main difference between Dubai and federal rules, outlined by the crisis authority Ncema.

– Despite this, many Dubai residents are paying the Dh370 cost of being tested as a precaution before they fly. “People do not want to be stopped at the airport with a positive test, so more patients are arriving for voluntary testing because they now want to travel,” Dr Sukhant Bagdia, a pulmonologist at NMC Royal Hospital, told The National this week.

– If you live in Dubai but work on a visa from another emirate, you must follow federal rules, which include getting approval from the ICA/Tawajudi system, and which is explained below.

– When you land in Dubai you will be tested at the airport and must quarantine at home until you get the results, which take up to two or three days. You do not have to self-isolate for 14 days unless your test result is positive.

I’m a tourist visiting Dubai from July 7

– You should take a PCR nasal swab test up to four days before your flight to Dubai, in a hospital or private clinic in your home country. Make sure you take the results to Dubai with you. If the test is valid and recognized, and you have no symptoms, you will not be tested in Dubai or quarantined.

– There is a list of clinics in more than 100 cities that are recognised by the UAE authorities. If you cannot find one, you can contact your airline for advice.

– If it is not possible to be tested before you travel, medics at Dubai airport will screen you when you land. In this case, you would need to take an airport taxi straight to your hotel and quarantine in your room until the results arrive, which can take up to two or three days. Visitors staying with family should isolate in a separate room with an en suite bathroom, where possible.

– Children of all ages must be tested.

I’m an Abu Dhabi or Northern Emirates resident travelling abroad this summer

– You must to apply to the federal government’s ICA/Tawajudi system for permission to travel abroad. This is a similar process to the GDRFA system but you cannot leave the country without it.

– You must test negative before you set out for Abu Dhabi or other UAE airports. “Without the valid negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of take-off, individuals will not be permitted to board the aircraft,” Ncema said in its most recent update.

Relatively few outbound flights are running at the moment but Etihad and other airlines plan to expand operations this month.

– Once in your home country or destination, you will need to be tested before you return to the Emirates. You can do so by visiting one of the clinics listed here, and should plan this well ahead of your trip. This is an important difference with Dubai’s system, which does not require this.

– On your return, you must present your negative test before you board the aircraft home to the UAE. On arrival, you must quarantine for 14 days – even if your test was negative – as a precaution.

– Regular inbound flights for tourists and visitors are not yet flying in to Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, among other emirates.

I’m an Abu Dhabi resident. Can I fly from Dubai?

– You can, but as a non-Dubai visa holder you should apply for ICA/Tawajudi approval before you leave. Even if your airline or the airport does not ask for this, you should apply before you go. Last month the government said about 200,000 people with UAE visas or residency were outside the country when the borders closed on March 19. It would be unwise to travel abroad without approval to return.

Contact tracing and health forms

– Whether you’re a resident or tourist, you can expect to fill out a health declaration form stating you feel healthy, and that you and your insurance will bear the costs of any Covid-19 treatment should you become ill.

– You must also download the government’s Al Hosn tracing app, which will deliver your test results and can help officials trace anyone you’ve been in contact with if you are later found to have the virus.

Travel and health insurance

– You should look carefully at your travel and health insurance, which can cost as little as Dh60 and is provided automatically with some bank accounts. If you or a relative tests positive for Covid-19 while abroad, you may need an extended stay in a hotel or apartment and have to rebook your flights. More importantly, you should ensure your family is well covered should you need potentially expensive hospital treatment.

It is worth looking at international health plans, which typically cover an extensive range of treatment around the world, but tend to be more expensive and require you to sign up for months or a year. Insurance companies such as Axa and Aetna, among others, provide such services.

TBS Africa supports the WTTC’s #BendOurTrend Campaign for Africa

TBS Africa, a training, coaching and support organization for sustainable travel, tourism and hospitality in Africa, has joined the #BendOurTrend campaign and has submitted commitment to promote the campaign for climate friendly travel for the African Continent.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in collaboration with SUNx Malta, has launched a Climate Resilience campaign called “BEND OUR TREND”. This initiative was launched on the just celebrated World Environment Day on Saturday, 5th June

Led by a 90-second animated video, the campaign is designed to encourage Travel & Tourism companies and communities to:

1. Adopt Climate Friendly Travel – Low carbon, linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and consistent with the Paris 1.5 trajectory.

2. Create Climate Neutral Ambition Plans and file these on the SUNx Malta UNFCCC-linked Registry.

With the support of Malta’s Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, who has declared her country to be a global centre of Climate Friendly Travel, we are deploying tools to help the entire Travel & Tourism sector in its essential transformation to a 2050 Paris 1.5 trajectory.

Minister Farrugia Portelli said:

“Our commitment to Climate Friendly Travel is even more important in a world where we need to plan our post-COVID19 future to also respond to the existential Climate Crisis – the effects of which are already upon us. Malta is a strong supporter of the Paris Climate Agreement and the EU Green Deal: through our work with SUNx Malta we will help bring Travel & Tourism to the table.”

Gloria Guevarra, President & CEO, WTTC said:

“This is another important step, working with SUNx Malta to encourage the Travel & Tourism sector to support the Paris Climate Agreement, in line with our long-standing engagement with UNFCCC to achieve Climate Neutrality by 2050. The present COVID-19 crisis has highlighted more than ever, the importance of ensuring sustainable Travel & Tourism as a key enabler to future recovery and growth. WTTC members are committed to play a leadership role.”

For SUNx Malta Professor Geoffrey Lipman, its President, and Leslie Vella, Chairman:

“We will provide support tools, underpinning the Registry and train young smart graduates, together with the Institute of Tourism Studies, Malta (ITS), to assist in strategic low carbon transformation. We are proud to work with a growing number of SDG-17 Partners to share innovation, strategic planning, visibility, education and training.

In addition to WTTC, other partners included in the launch include the Ministry for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Malta Tourism Authority, Institute of Tourism Studies, Sustainable First, Green Travel Maps, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, and LUX* Hotels & Resorts.

For more details on the #BendOurTrend campaign, please see https://www.thesunprogram.com/registry

SUNx Malta 2020 Message
SUNx Malta is a legacy for the late Maurice Strong, father of Sustainable Development: its goal is to advance Climate Friendly Travel ~ measured: green: 2050 proof. SUNx Malta President, Geoffrey Lipman, is former Assistant Secretary General UNWTO; President WTTC; Executive Director IATA.
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