News
IATA decries high cost of COVID-19 testing; could inhibit industry’s return to international flying
May 5th 2021
International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general, Willie Walsh, said overnight the high cost of COVID-19 tests in several countries could limit the recovery in international aviation by putting air travel out of reach for some prospective passengers. Read More » The airline lobby group published an analysis of the cost of COVID-19 tests in 16 countries and found the average minimum fee was US$80 and the average maximum cost was US$208. "If you look at the impact this would have on a family of four, the real risk is these prohibitive costs will prevent people, families from exercising their freedom to travel to visit friends, to take a holiday," Walsh told reporters during a media briefing. "We cannot, as a society, we just cannot allow that situation to develop where only the rich can afford to travel again."
IATA's monthly traffic statistics showed passenger demand, or revenue passenger kilometres, was down 67.2% in March from pre-COVID-19 levels in March 2019. The numbers are an improvement from the 74.9% decline in February, with the gains due to an upturn in domestic markets such as China.
“The positive momentum we saw in some key domestic markets in March is an indication of the strong recovery we are anticipating in international markets as travel restrictions are lifted. People want and need to fly. We can be optimistic they will do so when restrictions are removed,” Walsh said.
