Air Cargo Up 12% in April Compared to Pre-COVID Levels

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released April 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that air cargo demand continued to outperform pre-COVID levels (April 2019) with demand up 12%. As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons to follow are […]

Aircraft Operations Must Not Suffer from Political Interference

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to maintain the critical separation between politics and aviation safety issues. The call followed the latest development in events following the incident when Ryanair FR4978 was intercepted over Belarus Airspace and forced to land in Minsk. On 2 June EASA replaced […]

Optimism When Borders Reopen

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Tourism Economics released a long-term view for post-COVID-19 passenger demand recovery which demonstrates that people remain eager to travel in the short and long-term. To ensure that aviation can sustainably deliver its social and economic benefits as it meets this long-term demand, it is critical that governments step-up […]

Digitalization Needed for Smooth Restart

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned of potential airport chaos unless governments move quickly to adopt digital processes to manage travel health credentials (COVID-19 testing and vaccine certificates) and other COVID-19 measures. The impacts will be severe: Pre-COVID-19, passengers, on average, spent about 1.5 hours in travel processes for every journey (check-in, security, border […]

ICAO Secretary General discusses prospects for civil aviation

During a high-level discussion yesterday on current prospects for civil aviation, hosted by the Montreal Council for International Relations (CORIM) and with the participation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aéroports de Montréal, Mr. Philippe Rainville, ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu outlined COVID-19’s devastating impacts on the air transport sector globally and […]

Accepting Vaccinated Passengers Should be Global Best Practice to Reopen Borders

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) applauded the growing number of countries making data and evidence-driven decisions to open their borders to vaccinated travelers. The latest data collected by IATA, including its Timatic service, shows that more than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted restrictions for vaccinated travelers. IATA supports unrestricted access to travel […]

March Domestic Demand Sees Upsurge but International Travel Still Largely Shutdown

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that passenger traffic fell in March 2021 compared to pre-COVID levels (March 2019) but rose compared to the immediate month prior (February 2021). Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to March 2019, […]

Air Cargo Demand Reaches All Time High in March, up 4.4% Compared to Pre-COVID Levels

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released March 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that air cargo demand continued to outperform pre-COVID levels (March 2019) with demand up 4.4%. March demand reached the highest level recorded since the series began in 1990. Month-on-month demand also increased albeit at a slower pace than the […]

High Testing Costs Could Stall the Recovery

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to ensure that high costs for COVID-19 testing don’t put travel out of reach for individuals and families. To facilitate an efficient restart of international travel, COVID-19 testing must be affordable as well as timely, widely available and effective. An IATA sampling of costs for PCR […]

IATA Statement on President von der Leyen comments regarding US-EU travel

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is encouraged by comments of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (EC), that the EU will grant unrestricted access to vaccinated travelers from the US. “This is a step in the right direction. It gives hope to people for so many reasons—to travel, to reunite with […]