IATA calls for pre-flight Covid-19 tests for passengers

MUMBAI: Rapid, accurate, affordable, easy-to-operate, scalable and systematic Covid-19 testing for all passengers before departure could be employed as an alternative to quarantine measures in order to re-establish global air connectivity, said airlines’ trade body, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a press release issued on Tuesday.
"The call is to develop a test that meets the criteria of speed, accuracy, affordability, ease of use could be administered systematically under the authority of governments following agreed international standards. IATA is pursuing this position through International Civil Aviation Organization," said the release.
The airline body said that its public opinion research revealed strong support for Covid-19 testing in the travel process. "Some 65% of travelers surveyed agreed that quarantine should not be required if a person tests negative for Covid-19. A total 84% agreed that testing should be required of all travellers and 88% agreed that they are willing to undergo testing as part of the travel process," said IATA. The availability of rapid Covid-19 testing was among the top three signals that travelers would look to for reassurance that travel is safe (along with the availability of a vaccine or a treatment for Covid-19), said IATA adding that international travel is 92% down on 2019 levels.
"Some governments have cautiously re-opened borders..., but there has been limited uptake because either quarantine measures make travel impractical or the frequent changes in Covid-19 measures make planning impossible," it added.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general and CEO said, “The key to restoring the freedom of mobility across borders is systematic Covid-19 testing of all travelers before departure. This will give governments the confidence to open their borders without complicated risk models that see constant changes in the rules imposed on travel. Testing all passengers will give people back their freedom to travel with confidence. And that will put millions of people back to work.”
Covid-19 testing before departure is the preferred option as it will create a “clean” environment throughout the travel process. Testing on arrival dents passenger confidence with the potential for quarantine at destination in the event of a positive result.
There will be many practical challenges to integrating testing into the travel process establishing the protocols to safely manage large-scale testing across all industry stakeholders. “The ICAO process is critical to aligning governments to a single global standard that can be efficiently implemented and globally recognized. Airlines, airports, equipment manufacturers and governments will then need to work in total alignment so that we can get this done quickly. Each day that the industry is grounded risks more job losses and economic hardship,” said de Juniac.