Source: European Commission As of today, the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation enters into application. This means that EU citizens and residents will now be able to have their Digital COVID Certificates issued and verified across the EU. 21 Member States as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein had already started to issue certificates ahead of today's deadline, and five EU countries are starting today. The Commission's work on the EU Digital COVID Certificates was led by Commissioner Didier Reynders in close cooperation with Vice-Presidents Vera Jourová and Margaritis Schinas and Commissioners Thierry Breton, Stella Kyriakides, and Ylva Johansson. Welcoming the entry into application of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The European Union is delivering for [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Rolls-Royce plc have signed a joint statement that clarifies the engine manufacturer’s ongoing commitment to an open and competitive approach to its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. The document was finalized after several months of productive and collaborative dialogue on industry best practice for engine MRO services. Both organizations are aligned on four key principles that underpin the Rolls-Royce approach to the MRO ecosystem and are included in the official statement: Rolls-Royce does not prevent the development of legitimate non-OEM parts or non-OEM repairs by MRO providers and independent parts manufacturers, as long as they are approved by the appropriate airworthiness regulator; Rolls-Royce’s policy is to grant airlines, lessors and [...]

Source: US FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE)affirmed their commitment to increasing aviation safety and building a more sustainable industry during a virtual meeting today with senior officials from both continents. “We’ve proven we can accomplish more, with better results, when we work together,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “President Biden made this clear on his trip to Europe earlier this month. He reaffirmed the primacy of the U.S.-European alliance. The bonds we have forged through NATO and countless other areas continue to serve the interests of both sides. And nowhere is that more true than our relationship in aviation safety and sustainability.” “The EU-U.S. [...]

Source: UNWTO The crash in international tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global GDP for the years 2020 and 2021, according to an UNCTAD report published on 30 June. The estimated loss has been caused by the pandemic’s direct impact on tourism and its ripple effect on other sectors closely linked to it. The report, jointly presented with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), says international tourism and its closely linked sectors suffered an estimated loss of $2.4 trillion in 2020 due to direct and indirect impacts of a steep drop in international tourist arrivals. A similar loss may occur this year, the report warns, noting that the tourism [...]

Source: IATA Ahead of the 01 July deadline for Member States to implement the EUs Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) system – the crucial enabler for the restoration of freedom of movement within Europe - airlines and airports are warning of major operational risks due to the inconsistent approach by Member States in applying the DCC across Europe. In a letter sent yesterday to the EU Heads of State (pdf), the industry urged leaders to harmonise DCC verification standards and protocols, to avoid unnecessary airport queues and ensure a smooth passenger experience. While the European Commission has worked closely with industry and delivered in record time the adequate framework allowing for common and fully interoperable DCCs, no less than 10 different [...]

Source: ALPA In a speech today today before the Aero Club of Washington, Capt. Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), highlighted the critical role pilots and other aviation labor groups played to help the United States battle the pandemic and position the aviation industry for a strong economic rebound. In addition to highlighting the remarkable achievements aviation frontline workers accomplished during the COVID-19 crisis, DePete also underscored the importance of a strong, safe and diverse airline pilot workforce and the need to maintain and update current regulatory standards so that the U.S. aviation industry continues to set the standard for the world. “Make no mistake, our nation’s airline pilot workforce is ready for duty and already [...]

Source: ICAO Responding to a variety of recent and emerging aerospace and geopolitical developments throughout its 223rd session, which concluded yesterday, the ICAO Council realized important progress towards facilitating the aviation sector’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, towards enhancing the safety, security and sustainability of flight, and towards improving the governance of the UN’s specialized agency for civil aviation. The foundation of ICAO’s COVID-19 recovery strategy is assuring the implementation of the recommendations of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART). Prepared in cooperation with the WHO and other UN and aviation bodies, its recommendations have been updated on a continuous basis throughout the pandemic in order to reflect the highly dynamic context, knowledge, and challenges. This session, [...]