Airlines will play a major role in a country's economic recovery

In its recent weekly briefing call this week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) board of governors have came up with declarations which include 5 key principles for the re-start of the aviation industry. It also stated that aviation will be a key driver of economic recovery. 

The IATA said that airlines will work with governments, institutions, and stakeholders to Ensure that affordable air transport will be available in the post-pandemic period and to re-establish capacity that can meet the demands of the economic recovery as quickly as possible.

In a report from the IATA, these 5 principles include:

1. Aviation will always put safety and security first: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to:

• Implement a science-based biosecurity regime that will keep our passengers and crew safe while enabling efficient operations.
• Ensure that aviation is not a meaningful source for the spread of communicable diseases, including COVID-19.

2. Aviation will respond flexibly as the crisis and science evolve: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to:

• Utilize new science and technology as it becomes available, for example, reliable, scalable and efficient solutions for COVID-19 testing or immunity passports.
• Develop a predictable and effective approach to managing any future border closures or mobility restrictions.
• Ensure that measures are scientifically supported, economically sustainable, operationally viable, continuously reviewed, and removed/replaced when no longer necessary.

3. Aviation will be a key driver of the economic recovery: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to:

• Re-establish capacity that can meet the demands of the economic recovery as quickly as possible.
• Ensure that affordable air transport will be available in the post-pandemic period.

4. Aviation will meet its environment targets: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to:

• Achieve our long-term goal of cutting net carbon emissions to half of 2005 levels by 2050.
• Successfully implement the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

5. Aviation will operate to global standards which are harmonized and mutually recognized by governments: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to:

• Establish the global standards necessary for an effective re-start of aviation, particularly drawing on strong partnerships with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Ensure that agreed measures are effectively implemented and mutually recognized by governments.

IATA chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said, "This declaration is important because it demonstrates the industry’s unit of purpose and commitment to work with our stakeholders to safely re-connect our world."

De Juniac however reiterates the importance of the government's role in the restart of aviation. "The re-start will go much more smoothly if governments cooperate. As I have said before, we must avoid the mess that followed 9.11 when governments acted unilaterally. This created confusion for airlines and travelers alike. And it took many years to clean-up," he said.

The IATA believes that a smooth restart of the aviation industry will be very beneficial in solving the economic dimension of the CoviD-19 challenge. While the size and shape of the aviation industry may change during the post-pandemic period, the industry remains a a critical support for vast sectors of economies of nations.