Airlines

IATA Seeks Clarity on Travel Ban

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a statement on the US Executive Order on Travel (EO), seeking clarity on the radical changes to entry requirements for the United States.

Working with 265 member airlines for safe, secure, efficient and sustainable global air transport links, IATA noted that as a matter of principle it works for the “free movement of trade and people across borders.”

“IATA also recognizes that states have the right and duty to protect their citizens by enforcing their borders. Where this has implications for air travel, we work with our member airlines to help them comply with these requirements efficiently and effectively. Global systems and procedures exist to support this activity. IATA’s Timatic online solution, for example, is a global database for travel document requirements. It is updated constantly and used by airlines and travel agents around the world.”

IATA notes that these systems can only support the efficient implementation of any government’s directives by the global air transport industry with advance co-ordination, as well as with detailed and consistent operational information.

“The EO was issued without prior co-ordination or warning, causing confusion among both airlines and travellers. It also placed additional burdens on airlines to comply with unclear requirements, to bear implementation costs and to face potential penalties for non-compliance.

We ask for early clarity from the US administration on the current situation. Moreover, we urge all governments to provide sufficient advance co-ordination of changes in entry requirements so that travellers can clearly understand them and airlines can efficiently implement them.”