The International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) and Airports Council International ( ACI ) Asia - Pacific are joining the International Civil Aviation Organization Middle East ( ICAO MID ) in press the political science in the Middle East realm to quickly carry out ICAO ’s spheric rule of thumb for rejuvenate aura connectivity to ensure the dependable and harmonized restart of aviation in the region . These guidelines are curb inTakeoff : Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis , which was approved by the ICAO Council on 26 January 2025 .
“ atmosphere connectivity is decisive to economical and sustainable development in the Middle East , effective convalescence of air transport in the neighborhood is all important to support the economy office COVID-19 . The primal principles , recommendation and guidelines of CART Report and Take - off Document , provide governments with a framework for restarting aviation while protecting public wellness ; and are signify to inform and align the COVID-19 convalescence roadmaps establish by States or industry . This is a ‘ living guidance ’ which will be continuously updated based on the latest aesculapian and operational advice and peril judgement as the world starts to reconnect . government and industriousness stakeholders can have certainty as they take action mechanism to get the world flying again , ” said ICAO ’s Acting Regional Director for the Middle East , Mr. Mohamed Smaoui .
“ We are counting on government in the Middle East to implement theICAO Take - off Guidancequickly and in a harmonized and reciprocally recognized way , because the world desire to travel again and needs airlines to play a key role in the economic recovery . The steering recognizes that societal distancing is not potential on an aircraft , therefore stomach face coverings as part of a layered risk mitigation approach shot . And recommends contact tracing which should give governments the confidence to open borders without quarantine measures . Local departure and exception will damage public confidence and make it harder to go effectively slow up down the industry restart . This would be harmful to public health and the economic retrieval , ” tell Muhammad Albakri , IATA ’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East .
“ Safety and security are the industry ’s main priority , and both are firmly entrenched into every airport ’s operations and corporate acculturation . progress on this cut record , theICAO Take - off Guidance documentis fully adjust with our industry ’s focus on passenger and employee wellbeing . We pep up the Middle East states to swiftly go through the guidelines so we can ensure truly harmonized and efficient bill across the region and passenger can return to melody locomotion with self-confidence . As justly state in the ICAO guidance , DoS should unendingly readapt the measures depending on their effectiveness to reduce the risk of transmission and scalability , particularly as soon as dealings ramp up again to certain intensity of traffic . drome need health authorities to work cooperatively with them to adapt physical distancing to specific layout and operations , “ say Stefano Baronci , Director General , ACI Asia - Pacific .
encroachment of COVID-19 on air power in the Middle EastCOVID-19 has devastated the breeze transferral diligence in the Middle East . Demand in terms of passenger volumes is forecast to come 56 % in 2020 year - on - year for airlines and 47 % for airport . airline in the region are expected to post a last loss of US$ 4.8 billion this yr as passenger revenues decline by US$ 24 billion compare to the previous yr . Airports in the region estimated total tax revenue expiration of US$ 7billion , representing a 52 % year - on - year decline in 2020 . Job exit in air travel and related industries in the region could reach 1.2 million and GDP supported by air could fall by US$ 66 billion . Before the COVID-19 crisis air supported 2.4 million Job in the area and generated US$ 130 billion in GDP .
A phase approachThe ICAO Guidance proposes a phased approach to re-start air and identifies a set of in the main applicable risk of infection - establish measures which , in occupation with good word and guidance from public health authorities , will extenuate the hazard of transmission of the COVID-19 virus during the travel process .
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The system are also root on states to identify every chance where locomotion restrictions could be lifted , through bilateral or many-sided placement among countries - as presently as the epidemiologic situation allows for it .
support the restart of the industryICAO , IATA and ACI Asia - Pacific also pledged their commitment to providing backup to industry stakeholders in the part to help ensure implementation and compliance with the recommendedICAO Take - off Guidelines .
“ Aviation is front the freehanded challenge of its history : safely restarting external connectivity while ensuring that aviation is not a meaningful source for the spread of COVID-19 is not an option but rather a essential . We necessitate all custody - on pack of cards to get the industriousness up and run again and are committed to make the journeying as unseamed and risk gratuitous as potential . We will collaborate support State Department to put through these guidelines in the fastest and most efficient way and encourage government activity and other industry stakeholder to reach out to us for support , ” enunciate Albakri .
IATA and ACI have also collectively produced a insurance policy paper , Safely Restarting Aviation - ACI and IATA Joint Approach(pdf ) that rig out the principles of regain aerodrome and airline operation in a safe manner .
IATA and ACI Asia - Pacific are also act closely with the Arab Air Carriers Organization ( AACO ) and the Arab Civil Aviation Organization ( ACAO ) to support the secure restart of the industriousness in the Middle East .
For more information : IATAwww.iata.org
