The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the results of a survey of the world’s top 50 air travel markets, showing “increasing momentum towards re-opening of borders and relaxation of travel restrictions, as Covid-19 moves into the endemic phase”.
IATA said that 25 markets – representing 38 per cent of international demand in 2019 – are now open to vaccinated travellers without quarantine or testing requirements. This figure is up from 18 markets in mid-February.
Of the 50 markets surveyed, 38 now do not require vaccinated travellers to quarantine on arrival, up from 28 a month ago.
But the results also show a marked difference of openness across the world. In the US, the Middle East and Africa all markets surveyed are now open to vaccinated travellers without quarantine requirements, and in Europe this figure is 18 out of 20.
But Asia Pacific remains “heavily compromised by Covid restrictions”, with only six out of 16 markets no longer imposing quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers.
Commenting on the news Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said:
“The world is largely open for travel. As population immunity grows, more governments are managing Covid-19 through surveillance, as they do for other endemic viruses.
“That is great news for a growing number of destinations that will receive a much-needed economic boost from the upcoming Easter and Northern Summer travel seasons.
“Asia is the outlier. Hopefully, recent relaxations including Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines are paving the way towards restoring the freedom to travel that is more broadly enjoyed in other parts of the world.”
Business Traveller has compiled a number of features looking at current travel restrictions and testing requirements: