The good and bad news on the road to recovery

Courtesy EPA

The good news is that airlines are on the road to recovery faster than expected. And the bad news, many of them are not prepared for it.

North America, which is leading in the recovery, is afflicted with massive flight delays. American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines passengers are among the worst hit.

A major problem is a shortage of pilots which resulted in hundreds of planes being grounded.

Travellers in Canada too are facing long lines at the airport due to reduced staffing.

Over in the Untied Kingdom, thousands of travellers are either denied their holiday abroad or stuck overseas after the cancellation of their flights. Passengers booked with British Airways, easyjet, Tui Airways and Wizz Air are among those affected.

How did it get to be so bad?

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps put it simply that too many jobs had been cut and airlines had “seriously oversold flights and holidays”.

UK airlines cut about 30,000 jobs, almost half the number employed in 2019. Thousands of other airport support staff had also been let go.

Yet this was only to be expected at the height of the pandemic. It made economic sense then. The present problem is exacerbated by staff forced into early retirement during the pandemic and others who have sought alternative employment elsewhere and prefer not to return to the industry.

True, airlines are biting off more than they can chew. They can do better. They in turn blame the authorities for not doing enough to support them. There are issues of long employment vetting and training of new staff. Unions think not enough consideration is given to pay and work conditions.

The situation has developed into a blaming match. What is needed now is for all parties to work together and think of the customers who invariably end up being the worst off through no fault of theirs.

COVID Fatigue: Is it time to relax travel restrictions?

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers to be removed. Its director general Willie Walsh said: “The current situation of travel restrictions is a mess.”

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It is understandable why. IATA members – the airlines – are hurting into the third year of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the United States, IATA joined a business group which includes Airlines for America, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Air Transport Association, Aerospace Industries Association and the U.S. Travel Association in urging the White House to do away with pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated passengers. In a letter, they argued that “surveys of air passengers indicate that pre-departure testing is a leading factor in the decision not to travel internationally.”

The exasperation lies in the uncertainty as to when the coronavirus saga will come to an end. The year 2024 as an indication is but consolatory, a goal not near enough and one too far. Even now as many countries are battling Omicron, a new sub-variant B.A.2 has emerged; it is said to be more infectious and less detectable. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the virus has been detected in 57 countries so far.

Walsh for one might not be convinced. He said, “With the experience of the Omicron variant, there is mounting scientific evidence and opinion opposing the targeting of travellers with restrictions and country bans to control the spread of COVID-19. The measures have not worked.”

In truth, in the flood of information (and misinformation) surfacing each day about the virus from different sources, there is an abundance of differing and opposing views. The situation is complicated globally when the world’s nations introduce different measures and in varying degree, with some of them practically closing their doors to foreigners including transit passengers.

Most major airlines operate on a global stage. More restrictions means less access, and the frequent change of rules at short notice are of course disruptive. Whether Walsh’s argument holds water or not, questions may be asked as to how much more restrictive can the rules be. Is it enough that travellers are vaccinated? Is quarantine necessary for these passengers? What of the multitude of tests pre and post flight? And how is “fully” vaccinated universally defined?

A number of countries are already lifting travel restrictions despite the rising number of infections. Britain for one is scrapping testing requirements for vaccinated travellers as, according to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, “Border testing of vaccinated travellers has outlived its usefulness.” Other European nations such as Denmark and Sweden are also relaxing the rules, and more countries are expected to follow suit.

Elsewhere, some countries are relaxing restrictions in varying degrees and forms. Thailand, for example, will admit fully vaccinated travellers under a scheme which requires them to apply online for quarantine-free entry. They may however still be subject to testing. Highly reliant on tourism, Thai Finance Minister Arkhom Terpittayapaisith said, “Reopening and managing the outbreak need to go hand in hand.”

New Zealand is the latest country to announce its decision to relax border restrictions, but it will not fully reopen until October. It will begin with allowing New Zealanders returning from neighbouring Australia to self-isolate rather than going into quarantine. The same option will be extended next to New Zealanders from other countries and thereafter gradually to other groups of travellers.

Some countries such as China and Japan are not as persuaded.

Courtesy Reuters

The general trend nevertheless is welcome news to the airlines. However, WHO warns countries not to be too hasty in relaxing the rules as infection from Omicron and the new sub-variant BA.2 continues to rise. Living with the virus does not mean the risk is absent.

While there is definitely pent-up demand for travel, many air travellers still need to be reassured that it is safe to fly, particularly when it entails spending long hours in a confined space. To this end, airlines will therefore have to continue to put in the measures to reduce the risk of infection, whether resulting in re-infection or asymptomatic transmission, even as only fully vaccinated passengers are allowed to board. The face mask for now stays on.