Airports Council International (ACI) World has called on governments globally to take a coordinated and risk-based approach when managing inbound travelers from China, following the implementation of travel restrictions by several countries.
Luis Felipe de Oliveira, ACI World director general, said, “We can’t repeat past mistakes. We are working with ICAO and other international organizations to protect connectivity, which is vital to fully restoring travel, trade and tourism that provide economic and social benefits to communities worldwide.
“As such, we welcome the government of China’s plan to lift Covid-19 quarantine requirements for international arrivals. As the last major economy in the world to reopen its borders, the decision represents a key milestone in the recovery of air travel. We now call on them to go further and reassess their testing requirements as well.
“In order to ensure the smooth recovery of air traffic and the benefits this brings, cooperation and the establishment of standards through ICAO, WHO and others that harmonize the processes for international travel between countries are crucial. Several states are now reactively reintroducing Covid-19 testing and other health measures for travelers from China.”
De Oliveira concluded, “ACI World strongly reiterates that if any health-related travel measures are deemed necessary, that they be risk- and evidence-based. It is imperative for governments to have a harmonized response and to coordinate this response with other countries and aviation stakeholders. Let’s not take two steps backwards but continue to move forward with the valuable lessons learned from the past.”
