Restart of Travel and Air Traffic: Airline Associations Demand Politicians to Implement a Consistent

• Appeal of more than ten BARs to both national and European policymakers
• Coordinated procedures create trust
• People must regain their right to mobility and travel

Across Europe, the national airline associations, the Boards of Airline Representatives (BARs), are advocating a fast and consistent approach regarding the restart of travel and air traffic within the EU and with third countries. The BARs involved are criticizing the current uncoordinated situation and point out that, from a technical point of view, the prerequisites for the necessary harmonization are already in place. Merely, the coordinated political decisions of 'what and how' are progressing very slowly.

Michael Hoppe, Secretary General of the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG): "People have a right to mobility and freedom to travel. In view of the positive developments of vaccination campaigns and the enduring decrease of infection rates, basic rights and freedoms must now be returned to citizens on the basis of the EU Council of Ministers' decision of May 27, 2021. However, the apparently uncoordinated and constantly changing approach of EU states with regard to travel regulations is once again leading to great dissatisfaction and uncertainty among European citizens. We call on politicians to implement harmonized, practicable regulations now. Mere words are insufficient. Action must be taken; the technology is ready."

"My colleagues from the European BARs and I therefore appeal to national politics, the EU Council, and the EU Commission to implement harmonized procedures and regulations as quickly as possible. This will allow people to plan their long-awaited trips to see their families and friends or to go on vacation, and business travelers will be able to resume international meetings and appointments."

The representatives of the European BARs strongly advocate for:

• coordinated entry and exit rules
• the recognition of vaccination, recovery, and testing certificates
• uniform declaration of risk areas, high-incidence areas, or areas of variant of concern
• coordinated rules for travel between the EU and other potentially opening third countries, such as the USA, China or others

The BARs that are advocating these demands include the associations from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.