Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to follow World Health Organization (WHO) advice and immediately rescind travel bans that were introduced in response to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Public health organizations, including the WHO, have advised against travel curbs to contain the spread of Omicron. WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant states that: "Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivizing countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data. All countries should ensure that the measures are regularly reviewed and updated when [...]

Source: ACI-LAC Marsh, a global leader in Risk Advisory and Insurance Brokerage, joins the Airports Council International Latin America and the Caribbean as an Affiliate member. Marsh is a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses – Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. Marsh serves commercial and individual clients with data-driven risk solutions and advisory services. Rafael Echevarne, CEO of ACI-LAC, noted “Our business partners are critical to the commercial development of the airport industry in the region. Marsh Airport Group we believe will be key to the benefit of our [...]

Source: US FAA The FAA believes the expansion of 5G and aviation will safely co-exist. Today, we took an important step toward that goal by issuing two airworthiness directives to provide a framework and to gather more information to avoid potential effects on aviation safety equipment. The FAA is working closely with the Federal Communications Commission and wireless companies, and has made progress toward safely implementing the 5G expansion. We are confident with ongoing collaboration we will reach this shared goal. AD 2021-23-12 AD 2021-23-13

Source: UNWTO The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) of the United Nations calls out against the introduction of blanket restrictions on travel, as witnessed in recent days. This call echoes the concerns raised by UNWTO Members during the 24th UNWTO General Assembly (30 November–3 December). Countries from all global regionsexpressed their solidarity with Southern African states, calling for the immediate lifting of travel bans imposed on specific countries and for freedom of international travel to be upheld. UNWTO takes note of the recent declarations of the United Nations Secretary-General and the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the unfairness and ineffectiveness of blanket travel in respect to the countries of Southern Africa. Restrictions ineffective and discriminatory In light [...]

Source: ICAO This International Civil Aviation Day, the UN Aviation and World Tourism organizations (ICAO/UNWTO) have issued a joint call for efforts to reconnect the world to be accelerated. The COVID-19 pandemic brought global air mobility and tourism to an abrupt halt. It also pressed pause on trillions of dollars’ worth of economic activity. Millions of livelihoods and businesses have been placed at risk. And while increasing vaccination rates are helping to kickstart the return of international aviation and restart tourism, much more still needs to be done. We therefore add our organizations’ voices to those of the G7, G20, and the many countries who have called for borders to be opened both to fully vaccinated travelers and to travelers [...]

Source: ICAO For the first time since International Civil Aviation Day was established, in 1994, ICAO is commemorating 7 December this year with a special Joint Statement with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) calling for accelerated global efforts to reconnect the world. With global connectivity recovery on course, both UN bodies called for intensified efforts towards vaccine equity and stressed that restrictions on travel due to new variants of COVID-19 must only be used "as a very last resort," noting they're "discriminatory, ineffective and against the guidance of the World Health Organization." They also underscored that the pandemic has "pressed pause on trillions of dollars' worth of economic activity, affecting millions of livelihoods globally," and that with better mitigation [...]

Source: ALTA Given the recent announcements of new border closures, quarantines and requirements for travelers due to the Omicron variant, the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) calls on the governments of the Latin American and the Caribbean region to use a multi-layered approach to mitigate the risk of spread. ALTA strongly recommends that States implement the biosafety recommendations for air transport compiled by the ICAO CART Group, whose updated documents were developed by government representatives and the airline industry. ALTA emphasizes that this is not the time to make decisions based on fear, especially when it has been shown that air transport is not a vector of contagion and that rapid tests are an efficient and safe way [...]

All ACI-LAC members are invited to the second ACI-LAC & InteVISTAS Consulting Inc. webinar on “COVID Air Travel Recovery and Trends in Air Service Development” This webinar will review industry capacity and demand trends since COVID-19 with a special focus on Latin America, progress towards recovery, and impacts of government action/inaction on carriers.  The presentation will also provide insights on potential recovery focus areas from an air service development perspective. Date: Thursday, December 09, 2021 Time: 10:00 AM (Panama / Quito / Bogota) Speaker:  Daniel Skwarek, Senior Vice President, InterVISTAS Consulting Inc. To participate, you have to register here: https://bit.ly/3Gjpa5j NOTE: Simultaneous Interpretation available