Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the agreement by the G20 Tourism Ministers to support the safe restoration of mobility by following the G20 Rome Guidelines for the Future of Tourism. IATA urged G20 governments to quickly follow up their endorsement of the guidelines with actions, particularly the five-point agenda to safely restore mobility: Sharing information among industry and governments to inform policies and decisions to ensure safe mobility. Agreeing common international approaches to COVID-19 testing, vaccination, certification and information. Promoting digital traveler identity, biometrics and contactless transactions for safe and seamless travel. Providing accessible, consistent, clear and updated information to travelers to encourage and facilitate travel planning and journeys. Maintaining and improving the connectivity, safety and [...]

SourcE: UNWTO UNWTO has served as tourism’s global voice as the Tourism Ministers of the G20 nations met to devise a way forward for an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable recovery for the sector. Upon assuming Presidency of the G20, Italy has drawn on UNWTO datato highlight the impact the pandemic has had on tourist numbers globally and how this translates into lost jobs and revenues, as well as lost opportunities for social development. Addressing the meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, stressed the continued need for coordination at the very highest level, in order to advance “common, harmonized criteria for the easing of travel restrictions, and for increased investment in systems that support safe travel, including testing on departure and on arrival.” [...]

Source: IATA 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 tests (the test most frequently required by governments) in 16 countries showed wide variations by markets and within markets. Findings include: Of the markets surveyed, only France complied with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for the state to bear the cost of testing for travelers. Of the 15 markets where there is a cost for PCR testing to the individual The average [...]

Source: IATA 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, which followed a normal demand pattern. Total demand for air travel in March 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 67.2% compared to March 2019. That was an improvement over the 74.9% decline recorded in February 2021 versus February 2019. The better performance was driven by gains in domestic markets, particularly China. International traffic remained largely restricted. International passenger demand [...]

Source: IATA 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 previous month with volumes up 0.4% in March over February 2021 levels. Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons to follow are to March 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), was up 4.4% compared to March 2019 and 0.4% compared to [...]

Source: ACI Airports Council International (ACI) World has today signed a cooperation agreement with World Business Partner, Gallagher Aerospace to help foster enhancements in the fundamental industry priority of airport operational safety. Gallagher Aerospace is the leading insurance broker in the airline and airport sectors.   In pursuit of promoting safer airport operations as members prepare for the recovery, ACI World and Gallagher - a renowned insurance brokerage, risk management services and human capital firm - will work together to help member airports access the Airport Excellence (APEX) Programme, APEX in Safety.   ACI World’s APEX Programme has been running since 2012 and supports airports of all sizes to enhance levels of safety management through peer reviews with the aim [...]

Source: ACI Airports Council International (ACI) World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira today spoke at the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit about how the industry can work together to safeguard and rebuild the millions of aviation jobs threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic.   Participating in the panel Recovering 100 Million Jobs in Cancun, Mexico, Luis Felipe de Oliveira said air transport remains a vital part of the economy which, in pre-COVID-19 times, supports 88 million jobs and contributes $3.5 trillion to global Gross Domestic Product.   The panel was moderated by Aradhana Khowala, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Aptamind Partners, and Luis Felipe de Oliveira was joined by:   Craig Smith, Group President, International, Marriott International Luís [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is expanding the benefits available to the travel agent community through the ID Card and the AgentExperience platform. Eligible travel professionals (in possession of an IATA or IATAN ID card) can already access benefits such as special offers for flights, hotels, car rentals, sightseeing, ground transportation, familiarization trips and IATA training courses. An additional 180,000 worldwide hotel properties with attractive rates have been added to the portfolio for travel professionals, through a new partnership with hotelbeds.com. Additionally, travel professionals based in the US can also purchase select gift cards and receive up to 10% discount, or up to 50% discount on merchandise items. Bloomingdales, Foot Locker, TJ Maxx, Barnes & Noble, Sony, [...]