News
Airports call for scientific approach to new COVID-19 variant
December 1st 2021
Airports Council International World (ACI World) has called on governments to be pragmatic about their response to the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. Read More » Dozens of countries have suspended flights to Southern Africa in response to the highly contagious variant, with some shutting borders to all international travel. While conceding public health remained a priority, ACI World director-general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said governments needed to coordinate on implementing “pragmatic and risk-based measures based on science”. He called on them to work closely with airport and airlines before and during the imposition of travel restrictions. “This situation is another reminder of the urgent need for countries to adopt interoperable digital health credentials for testing and vaccination that are mutually recognized across borders,’’ he said. “This will allow countries to better manage their travel measures and adapt to the evolving health situation. “Full travel bans and border closures were not an ongoing solution as variants emerged,” de Oliveira added.
