The International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) , Airports Council International - Africa ( ACI Africa ) and the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ) Regional Offices for African States are merge in their call to governments in Africa to apace enforce ICAO ’s global road map for restore air connectivity to see to it the safe and harmonized restart of aviation in the neighborhood . These guidelines are contain inTakeoff : Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis , which was approved by the ICAO Council . They have also been adopted into the African Union ’s Restart and Recovery Strategies during and after COVID-19 for the African Aviation Sector .

“ develop free-base on the modish aesculapian grounds and uniform with health best drill the ICAO Take - off guidance provides governments with a framework for restart aviation while protect public health . Governments in Africa are encouraged to put through the guidance desperately and in a harmonized and mutually discern way to allow air travel to safely start contributing to Africa ’s economic recovery post COVID-19 . Air connectivity is critical to economic and sustainable growth in and across the continent , ” enunciate Mr. Barry Kashambo , Regional Director , ESAF speaking on behalf of the ICAO Regional Offices accredited to African States .

“ ICAO ’s Take - off counselling is a global way of life forrard for air . carrying out should give administration the confidence to open up edge without quarantine , and passengers the confidence to fly . But guidelines intend nothing if they are not implemented . And that is our main message to government in Africa . Deviations from the direction and mandatory approach path , specially on quarantine and social distancing , will damage public confidence , make it hard to operate effectively , slow down the industry restart and increase the economic pressures already create by COVID-19 . This would be harmful to public health and the economic convalescence , ” sound out Muhammad Albakri , IATA ’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East .

“ safety gadget and security rest the industry ’s main antecedency , and both are firm entrenched into every airport ’s operations and corporate culture . Building on this track record , the ICAO Take - off counselling is fully align with our industry ’s direction on passenger and faculty wellbeing . We therefore urge African States to urgently take up these guidelines so that we can ensure the implementation of consistent , consonant and effective measures across the area , a prerequisite for passengers to return to melody travel in all confidence , and for the swift restoration of air connectivity for the sustainable recuperation of the change of location , business and tourism sectors on the continent , ” read Ali Tounsi Secretary General , ACI Africa .

Effect of COVID-19 on aviation in AfricaCOVID-19 has crippled the air rapture industry in Africa . Demand is forecast to go down by 58.5 % in 2020 twelvemonth - on - year – the largest cliff of all the regions . airline in the region are expected to post a nett loss of $ 2 billion this twelvemonth as passenger revenues correct by over $ 6 billion compared to the old year . at the same time , African airports are expect to turn a loss 51 % of their revenues in 2020 , i.e. , around $ 2.2 billion . Job losses in aviation and related industries in the neighborhood could reach 3.1 million and GDP support by air power could fall by $ 28 billion . Before the COVID-19 crisis , aviation defend 6.2 million jobs in the neighborhood and generated $ 55.8 billion in GDP .

A layered and phased approachThe ICAO Guidance proposes a layered and phased approach to restarting air power and identifies a exercise set of generally applicable risk of infection - based measures . In phone line with recommendations and counselling from public wellness authorities , these will mitigate the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus during the travelling operation .

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The governance are also urging state to identify every chance where travel limitation could be lifted , through bilaterally symmetrical or many-sided placement among countries - as soon as the epidemiological situation allows for it .

Supporting the restart of the industryICAO , IATA and ACI Africa also toast their consignment to providing musical accompaniment to manufacture stakeholders in the area to help ensure carrying out and compliance with the commend ICAO Take - off direction . This admit the growth ofmore detailed in operation procedure in four specific areas – Airport , Aircraft , Crew and Cargo - based on the Take - off counselling .

“ re-start external connectivity safely while ensure that airmanship is not a meaningful source for the spread of COVID-19 is not an selection but a must . air travel is facing the big challenge of its account ; we postulate all hands - on deck to get the industriousness up and run away again and we are committed to arrive at the journeying as seamless and risk - free as potential . We will collaborate with and support states to implement these guidelines in the firm and most efficient path and encourage regime and other manufacture stakeholder to progress to out to us for supporting , ” said Albakri .

IATA , ACI Africa , ICAO , the African Union , African Civil Aviation Commission ( AFCAC ) , Africa Airlines Association ( AFRAA ) Airlines Association of Southern Africa ( AASA ) and CANSO are working closely to support the good restart of the industry in Africa .

" We are all in this together"IATA , ACI Africa and ICAO unwaveringly believe that now is the meter for all stakeholder of the aviation ecosystem to act in unity and make together towards a swift , efficient , harmonic and sustainable recovery of the African breeze transport industry .

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