Government of Canada must prioritise resuming international connectivity, says IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has highlighted its recognition of the fact that the immediate focus of the Government of Canada is limiting the spread of COVID-19. This includes extraordinary measures aimed at stopping all but essential travel, along with strict testing and quarantine protocols, to eliminate the importation of new COIVD-19 variants.

However, IATA has stressed that these policy actions to restrict the freedom of movement are taking a severe toll on people, businesses and the economy. To limit these effects, IATA has said that it is critical that the Government of Canada is prepared to progressively reconnect the country to the world when objective criteria gives decision makers the confidence that the epidemiological situation can safely permit this.

A collaborative dialogue between the industry and government will help this process in several key areas:

• Efficiently implementing policy measures, including global guidance of expert organisations, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Understanding and monitoring the benchmarks that the government is setting to eventually resume connectivity
• Ensuring that measures can be implemented in an international context, with minimal inconvenience to travellers.

“We are eager to support the leadership of the Honorable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport for Canada. This means implementing the measures needed to safely manage through the pandemic. But we must also ensure that there is a plan in place to energise the eventual recovery by restoring the freedom of movement and reconnecting the people and businesses of Canada, both internally and with the world,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.