(COVID-19) Pandemic

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic has been the worst global crisis of the modern era. The world has been daunted by the formidable challenge it poses to the health, lives and livelihoods of people, and to national economies worldwide. COVID-19 was a threat to  the very existence of the air transport industry and upended all national civil aviation plans and industry projections. International travel restrictions, frequent changes in border entry requirements and differing national health protocols have resulted in decline in tourism, leisure and business travel, critically impacting the aviation industry.

The pandemic has also underscored the impact of public and user’s confidence on operational and financial viability of air transport and accordingly, recognise that continuous improvement in safety, security, efficiency, reliability, comfort, affordability, and competitiveness of air travel is critical to sustainable development and growth of air transport.

The COVID-19 crisis further underscores the importance of international collaboration for development and implementation of harmonised air travel related public health policies and protocols as well as inter-sectoral collaboration and synergies between air transport and other sectors of the economy such as tourism, trade, finance, public health, immigration and border control etc., and that opportunities and threats in those sectors have significant impact on the recovery and growth of air transport and vice versa.

However, the crisis has also been an opportunity to review and enhance the contribution of civil aviation to national and global economies and society. In this regard it is important to consider the longstanding pre-COVID-19 challenges and the slow pace of air transport development and connectivity in many regions of the world that should have been effectively addressed, which the COVID-19 crisis has further exacerbated.

Accordingly, efforts aimed at supporting the expeditious recovery of the air transport, travel, tourism, trade and related sectors would only be sustainable and effective in the longer term if States take urgent steps to address those historical factors that militate against national and regional solutions to sustainable development and growth of air transport including political, institutional, financial, technological, technical expertise, capacity building, manpower development, etc.

Governments, industry and civil society must therefore collaborate to reimagine, revitalize and retool the aviation system to meet present and future challenges. In this connection States should develop, review and implement civil aviation policies, regulatory frameworks, and risk-based national and regional civil aviation plans with clear objectives, measurable targets, milestones, accountabilities and monitoring mechanisms to establish resilient aviation systems as well as integrate such civil aviation plans into national and regional economic development plans.

Cooperation among the States, industry and civil society is also critical in responding to the challenges of COVID-19 and in supporting the establishment of strong, virile and resilient aviation systems at the national, regional, and global levels. iPADIS is committed to collaborate with Governments and aviation related stakeholders and help foster partnerships among key stakeholders of the travel and tourism sectors to implement practical solutions to current challenges and establish long term strategies for a resilient civil aviation system for the future.