Aviation
Commercial /
Brazil
Difficulty in resuming
Aviation recovery will be hampered by high covid test prices, says Iata
Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa
Rafael Ramos
7/23/2021
International Air Transport Association (IATA) believes that covid tests are efficient and a good alternative to help return to normality. However, the association made a request to the government to make the tests more accessible.
Current PCR tests are expensive in many countries. Therefore, Iata's request is for more accessible tests, such as antigen, which has a much lower cost.
Image: Unsplash
IATA also called on the governments of countries to adopt the latest measures recommended by the World Health Organization - WHO - and consider exemption from testing for travelers who are fully vaccinated.
“Iata supports the COVID-19 tests as a way to reopen borders and resume international travel. But our support is not unconditional. In addition to being reliable, the test needs to be accessible, inexpensive, and appropriate for the level of risk. But many governments are failing in some or all of these aspects. The cost of testing varies widely between countries, and is little related to the actual cost of carrying out the test. The UK is a good example of a government not managing testing properly. There, the test is expensive, reaching exorbitant value. So it's unacceptable that the government still charges the VAT tax,” said Willie Walsh, general director of Iata.
The association conducted a survey of travelers on the subject of testing. 86% of respondents would take the test without any problems. However, 70% say the cost of testing is a barrier to travel, with 78% saying governments should shoulder the cost of mandatory testing.
WHO considers Ag-RDT antigen testing as an alternative to costly PCR. Furthermore, WHO says travelers and airlines should not bear the cost of testing.
Aviation needs to take over to support the 46 million jobs that depend on this sector. For this important figure to benefit, the sector needs everything that can be done to help.
"It doesn't make sense for governments to take steps to reopen borders if those measures make travel cost prohibitive for most people," Walsh concludes.
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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