Page 28 - World Airnews Magazine May 2021 Edition

IATA IATA

A SAFE RESTART different sectors of governments involved a pre-condition to fly. their services so that there are fare-paying

passengers when operations resume,” said
in the crisis including ministries of health,

“Many potential travellers, particularly
transport and IT.
Al Awadhi.
in Africa, cannot be vaccinated or will not

IATA supports the AU’s efforts and urges
Testing and vaccinations will play a role

OF OPERATIONS governments in Africa to amongst others have access to vaccines. Along with testing as the pandemic comes under control
and track & trace capabilities, vaccination

can be a tool to support the safe re-

and economies ramp up, including the
replace quarantine measures with testing,.

Today 20 countries in Africa have opening of borders without quarantine,” travel sector. Efficient digital management

But most of this relief is yet to Africa and the Middle East. quarantine measures in place. Quarantine he said. of health credentials is vital to restart.
reach the airlines and other aviation Government relief can come in many essentially means borders are closed. It Manual processes will not be able to cope

ontinued financial relief and the stakeholders in need. Added to this an forms such as cost reductions in terms of is critical that those African governments PLANNING FOR A SAFE RESTART with volumes once the recovery begins.

Crelease of commi� ed aid and estimated (US)$601 million in airline taxes and charges and the release of the implement effective alternatives to Preparing the industry to safely restart So digital solutions must be secure, work

blocked funds, the safe re-opening of funds remains blocked in Africa across (US) $601 million of airline revenues that quarantine measures such as pre- requires careful planning and advanced with existing systems, align with global

borders and planned restart of operations 17 countries including Algeria, Angola, are currently blocked from repatriation departure testing for international travel, preparation. Governments need to develop standards and respect data privacy.

benchmarks and plans that would enable a
must be the priorities for African airlines, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, in certain governments. This would be especially from countries with a similar safe, orderly and timely restart. IATA has developed IATA Travel Pass to

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea,

according to the International Air Trans- Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, an immediate boost to some markets. risk-profile. That means establishing operational manage health credentials, protect against

fraud and enable a convenient travel

port Association. Gabon, Cameroon, Chad, Congo and Governments need a financially viable air Governments must accept a reasonable restart plans and putting tools in place to process. It is being trialled by a number
transport sector to energize economic

Last year a handful of African airlines Zimbabwe putting further pressure on recovery from COVID-19. validity period of five (5) days for COVID-19 manage new Covid-19 testing and vaccine of airlines and airports around the world,

testing for travel that takes into account

secured (US) $2.04 billion in government airlines as they struggle for survival. Many of Africa’s airlines were weak even the waiting period for COVID-19 testing, requirements. including Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir

aid. Most of this was distributed through “African airlines posted a combined before the crisis. the turnaround time of the results, and “Safety remains the industry’s main in Africa. Another major African carrier is

direct government loans, equity financing (US) $2bn loss in 2020. This year we the accessibility of testing facilities on the priority and is a critical pre-condition for expected to come on board soon.

and cash injections. expect only a slight improvement (US) “Reducing the costs and freeing up continent. restarting operations and for the build-up The IATA Travel Pass compliments the

Despite this, eight airlines in Africa have $1.7bn loss as the struggle with COVID-19 blocked cash has long been a priority for of traffic thereafter. Restarting an airline work being done by the AU to safely

“We urge governments in Africa to

filed for bankruptcy or entered business continues. Looking ahead it’s unlikely African aviation. If ever there was a time consider accepting the AU recommended is not like flipping a switch; as such it is manage travel.

for decisive government action on these

administration over the past 12 months. that traffic will return to post COVID-19 issues, it is now,” said Al Awadhi. validity period of five (5) days for COVID-19 important to understand government “The WHO is currently developing these

Over (US) $30bn has been pledged levels until 2023. Financial relief testing for travel across the continent. And plans. Airlines need to ready their crew, global standards and we urge African

for air transport and tourism in Africa measures are still desperately needed, SAFE RE-OPENING OF BORDERS avoid COVID-19 vaccination as a mandatory technical personnel and aircraft. After a governments to adopt these for those

by International finance agencies and particularly those that do not increase The African Union has taken a leadership pre-entry and exit criteria,” he said. year of lockdowns, this requires refresher people who have been vaccinated and plan

other institutions including the African the industry’s debt burden. Additional role in preparing for the safe restart of In line with the WHO, the airline industry training, checks and co-ordination. On top to retrospectively record those who have

Development Bank, African Export Import relief measures and activating existing aviation in Africa through its ‘Saving Lives, does not support mandatory vaccination as of that airlines will need time to market already been vaccinated, “ he said. Q

Bank, African Union and the International pledges are essential,” said Kamil Al Economies, and Livelihoods; campaign.
Monetary Fund (IMF). Awadhi, IATA regional vice president This promotes collaboration between

AIR ZIM
TAKES TO THE SKIES
Industry Experts have
applauded the latest

imbabwe’s national development by the airline

Zcarrier Air Zimbabwe stating this will also have

has a new aircraft to service an effect on the pricing
the Harare -Victoria Falls structure for the route which
route as it strengthens focus was now almost dominated
by a single player.
on service delivery outlined

The introduction of the
in its strategic road map for aircraft will enable Air

this year. Zimbabwe to offer twice

The Embraer ERJ 145 has daily Harare-Johannesburg,
taken to the skies to service the four times weekly Bulawayo-

domestic routes from Harare- Johannesburg and three
Bulawayo- Victoria Falls. times weekly Harare-

The introduction of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls-Dar

flight, an important stride to Es Salaam services. There

promote tourism, comes as are plans by the airline

a huge cost cutting measure to commence Lusaka,

for the airline which was Lubumbashi and Kinshasa
using the larger Boeing 777 to services this year.

service the domestic route. A statement issued by

Flying three times a week, Air Zimbabwe Acting CEO

the airline now hopes for Joseph Makonise early this
a major comeback and year stated the airline is in
achievement of its 2021 the process of acquiring a
vision which focuses on second Embraer aircraft for

fleet augmentation, route deployment in the first half

expansion and service during the course of this
delivery. year. Q
Kamil Al Awadhi, Regional IATA VP – Africa and Middle East
World Airnews | May 2021 World Airnews | May 2021
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