IATA Urges Governments to Accelerate Easing of Travel Curbs

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to accelerate the relaxation of travel restrictions as Covid-19 continues to evolve from the pandemic to endemic stage.

 IATA called for removing all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine, enabling quarantine-free travel for non-vaccinated travelers with a negative pre-departure antigen test result, Trade Arabia said Saturday.

"With the experience of the Omicron variant, there is mounting scientific evidence and opinion opposing the targeting of travelers with restrictions and country bans to control the spread of Covid-19," said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general.

 "The measures have not worked. Today Omicron is present in all parts of the world. That is why travel, with very few exceptions, does not increase the risk to general populations. The billions spent testing travelers would be far more effective if allocated to vaccine distribution or strengthening healthcare systems," he added.

A recently published study by Oxera and Edge Health demonstrated the minimal impact of travel restrictions on controlling the spread of Omicron.

 The study found that if the United Kingdom's extra measures concerning Omicron had been in place from the beginning of November (before the identification of the variant), the wave’s peak would have been delayed by just five days with 3% fewer cases.

"While the study is specific to the UK, it is clear that travel restrictions in any part of the world have had little impact on the spread of Covid-19, including the Omicron variant. The UK, France and Switzerland have recognized this and are the first to begin removing travel measures. More governments need to follow their lead. Accelerating the removal of travel restrictions will be a major step towards living with the virus," Walsh said.

 Last week, the WHO Emergency Committee confirmed their recommendation to "Lift or ease international traffic bans as they do not provide added value and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress experienced by states.

 The failure of travel restrictions introduced after the detection and reporting of the Omicron variant to limit its international spread demonstrates the ineffectiveness of such measures over time."