Airlines want Covid restrictions for EU flights to end

 “Covid-19, and specifically the Omicron variant, is now pervasive throughout all of Europe, and population immunity is at such levels that the risk of hospitalisation or death has dramatically reduced, especially for vaccinated people.”

— Joint statement from ACI Europe and IATA

Europe’s airlines and airports on March 12 asked to end pandemic measures for European domestic flights as most countries in the region have begun to relax requirements to present proof of vaccination and wear masks.

“Covid-19, and specifically the Omicron variant, is now pervasive throughout all of Europe, and population immunity is at such levels that the risk of hospitalisation or death has dramatically reduced, especially for vaccinated people,” said the joint statement from ACI Europe (ACI Europe represents around 500 airports in the region plus IATA, the top trade association for airlines) and IATA (the top trade association for airlines). The two organisations noted that many countries had ended the requirement to wear masks in public spaces or present proof of vaccination to enter social events. “As European countries open up and remove restrictions, it is only logical to remove similar restrictions from air transport,” said the two organisations.

“This will free people to travel, and support jobs returning to the European air transport and travel sectors.”

— Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe

The trade bodies called for an end to requirements to present negative Covid tests and submit locator forms, as well as wearing masks on flights between European countries which no longer require wearing them inside public places. “This will free people to travel, and support jobs returning to the European air transport and travel sectors,” Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe, said in a statement.

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