ICAO: Guidance on Covid-19 Risk Management for International Air Travel

Photo source: ICAO

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Wednesday issued reinforced recommendations for countries on risk management and the introduction of Covid-19 related national air travel requirements.

According to the United Nations agency, the guidance is designed to help countries maintain air connectivity while taking prudent and evidence-based measures to mitigate ongoing risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and following World Health Organization (WHO) and ICAO recommendations.

“This approach contributes to enhanced travel, tourism, trade and economies,” said ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar.

ICAO’s guidance has been issued in a new bulletin from its Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation, or ‘CAPSCA’ programme.

Recommendations

Archive photo of Greek police checking documents of arriving passengers at Athens International Airport. Source: European Commission / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

The CAPSCA recommendations begin with the principles countries should consider before introducing air travel requirements and related mitigations. These include a need for regular, thorough risk assessments, based on evidence and comparable indicators; assessing applicable public health resources in both the departure and destination States; assuring good communication among the diverse stakeholders involved; and balancing the public health risk with the need for continuation of services.

“All of these priorities were highlighted by the ICAO Council’s CART recommendation’s which helped aviation recover from the pandemic, and the principles remain just as relevant today as we face these new variants,” said ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano.

Additional recommendations are provided on how States can continue air connectivity and how countries can mitigate Covid-19 risks in aviation, including through increased global vaccination.

Photo source: European Parliament ©AdobeStock/ToneFotografia

The guidance also reviews the current Covid-19 variants circulating globally, provides suggestions on maintaining open borders and assuring the recognition of air crew and other key civil aviation professionals as essential workers, and explores the considerations to be assessed by countries when deciding whether to implement testing strategies.

“These recommendations have taken into account the many factors national governments now need to consider in terms of air travel health measures,” Secretary General Salazar added.

ICAO’s guidance can be seen here.