Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Director General Subhas Menon believes travel cannot wait for universal vaccination as a global rollout stalls.
In his latest public appearances, Menon pointed to developing countries as a case in point, whereby they trail developed countries in inoculation rates. The inconsistent approach to border restrictions is another barrier to travel recovery.
“Everyone is pinning their hopes on the vaccine and mass immunisation,” Menon told an online audience, according to SimpleFlying.
“It is not about whether we should jab or not. It is not about who to jab, when to jab, or what to jab. Rather, the answer is more important: No one is safe until everybody is safe.”
AAPA, which represents 14 international carriers including Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, also believes that technology and digital health passports such as the IATA Travel Pass will play a critical role as demand rebounds.
“When travel returns, consumers will expect to have contactless and seamless travel. Each place has got its own requirements and formats for those requirements like testing and vaccination,” Menon separately told Bloomberg’s Daybreak Asia.
“I think a smart solution is probably the only way to do it.”
