IATA issues a Statement on Closure of UK Travel Corridors

16th Jan 2021 | Adwoa Sasu

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued a statement to the closure of UK borders from Monday.

This is what the association had to say, “IATA recognizes that the UK government is taking the steps it considers necessary to protect public health. While we understand this decision, it is of course deeply disappointing to see all travel corridors shut down, and universal testing and quarantine requirements imposed on all arrivals. Airlines understand and support the priority on protecting public health in the face of the global COVID-19 crisis. But, after nearly a year of battling the virus, the absence of coordination among governments is shocking”.

Since the beginning of the year we have seen Canada, the UK and the US introduce stricter measures to address concerns over developments in the COVID-19 crisis with little consistency between them from the perspective of the traveler.

According to IATA, The weeks ahead could bring even greater challenges in the efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic before we begin to realize the benefits of lockdowns and vaccinations. IATA believes that, To maintain orderly facilities for essential travel and confidence in the measures that are being taken by governments, it is critical that governments work together more closely.

In the case of the UK, the government must also understand the severe economic impact that imposing universal testing and quarantine measures will have. To maintain a viable air transport sector capable of leading the recovery, a financial support lifeline is critical, said IATA.

This statement comes on the heels of the UK announcing all border closures from Monday the 18th of January 2021.

Boris Johnson announced a dramatic tightening of the UK’s borders, with all international arrivals to be forced to quarantine as well as demonstrate they have had a negative Covid-19 test.

After months of criticism of the government’s lax border policies, which Labour claimed were “costing lives”, the prime minister said he was tightening the rules to prevent new variants of the virus reaching the UK and safeguard the vaccination programme.

“It is vital to take these extra measures now when day by day, hour by hour, we are making such strides in protecting the population,” Johnson told a Downing Street press conference.

Source: gh-aviation