Why IATA Is Urging Countries To Adopt Automated Solutions For COVID-19 Checks At Airports

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Thursday has urged governments to adopt automated solutions for COVID-19 checks at airports, warning that without automation and process improvements, the time spent by passengers in airport procedures—check-in, security, border control, customs, and baggage claim—could touch eight hours per trip at 100% pre-COVID-19 traffic levels.

Key facts

• IATA warned of potential chaos at airports unless governments quickly adopt digital processes to manage passengers’ travel health credentials related to COVID-19.
• Before the pandemic, passengers spent an average of 1.5 hours in airport processes for every journey. This has already gone up to three hours during peak time, with travel volumes at about 30% of the pre-COVID-19 levels.
• Waiting time at immigration and emigration has also significantly increased where travel health credentials are being checked mainly as paper documents.
• IATA has predicted that time spent in airport processes will increase significantly as the passenger count increases with the easing of the pandemic-driven restrictions.
• Passengers might also have to spend 5.5 hours per trip at 75% pre-COVID-19 traffic levels, whereas it would go up to eight hours at 100% pre-COVID-19 traffic levels.

Crucial quote

“Without an automated solution for COVID-19 checks, we can see the potential for significant airport disruptions on the horizon,” said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh. “Already, average passenger processing and waiting times have doubled from what they were pre-crisis during peak time—reaching an unacceptable three hours. And that is with many airports deploying pre-crisis level staffing for a small fraction of pre-crisis volumes,” he added.

Global passengers forecast

On Wednesday, IATA predicted that global air passenger numbers could surpass the pre-pandemic levels by 2023. It also predicted that air passenger numbers are likely to touch 52% of the pre-pandemic levels in 2021, whereas it will jump to 88% in 2022. After surging past pre-pandemic numbers in 2023, the end of the decade could see annual levels of 5.6 billion air passengers, the industry body said.

Probable solution

IATA has suggested digital certificates for COVID-19 testing and vaccination as a probable solution for the problem that would enable advanced ready-to-fly checks by governments. It added that digital certificates would also limit the risk of virus transmission via person-to-person exchange of paper documents.

The industry body asserted that the G20 Rome Guidelines for the Future of Tourism has also called for a common international approach for COVID-19 testing, vaccination, certification and information.

G7 nations’ role

IATA has urged the Group of Seven (G7) richest countries to discuss the issue in its summit scheduled on June 11-13 in the UK to develop a solution around vaccination certificates based on WHO standards, COVID-19 certificate as per the requirements set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization, and acceptance of digital health credentials at their borders. The association has also asked G7 nations to consider traveler-friendly apps, such as the IATA travel pass, where governments require airlines to check travel credentials.