The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has proposed a four-point plan to support the struggling aviation sector in the UK and boost short-term demand.
The move comes when the air transport crisis in the UK threatens around 820,000 jobs across the entire economy.
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The IATA has proposed introducing a testing regime to enable flights from high-risk countries. The testing system will also help in providing some flexibility to the strict quarantine rules, which are said to have dampened air travel demand.
IATA has also called for a revision of the current infection threshold for quarantine to create greater alignment with the policies of other European nations. This will help passengers to better plan their journeys.
In addition, the association proposed the suspension of Air Passenger Duty (APD) and the extension of the furlough scheme to reduce further job losses.
IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: “The stop-start-stop closing of the UK to the world is not a successful survival tactic for Covid-19.
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By GlobalData“Without a rescue plan, 820,000 jobs will be vaporised by quarantine and they may never come back.
“The answer is a Covid-19 testing regime that manages the risk to keep people safe from the virus. And it will avoid apocalyptic unemployment that is sure to devastate society and the economy.”
Established in 1945, IATA is a trade association of the world’s airlines. It represents around 290 airlines comprising 82% of global air traffic.
In July, IATA and the Airports Council International (ACI) World urged governments to assume the expenses of public health measures.
