february2021 - 42

EDITOR'S NOTE

Seeking the Key to Unlocking Travel
Travel requirements and other restrictions have
hampered the industry for nearly a year now. However,
efforts to overcome these challenges haven't slowed.

T
Editor - Josh Smith
jsmith@aviationpros.com
920-563-1644

he airline and ground handling industries, and aviation as
a whole, have always been able to adapt and evolve. That
requirement to acclimate to a changing environment has
been on full display over the past year as the COVID-19 pandemic
re-shapes the way we do our jobs.
But flexibility and ingenuity are still required
as the pandemic lingers and additional adaptation
will surely be necessary post-pandemic as well.
Airlines and ground handlers providing passenger services continue to adjust with ongoing
changes. For example, here in the United States,
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) is requiring all passengers entering the
country, as of Jan. 26, 2021, provide proof of a
negative COVID-19 test. There are reports that
the U.S. may consider mandatory COVID-19 tests
for domestic flyers, also.
Additionally, travel bans between countries
have caused changes to flight schedules and
affected staffing requirements.
IATA has called on governments around the
world to work with the travel industry to allow
the resumption of international travel.
" A priority for this critical cooperation is acceleration of the establishment of global standards
for vaccination and testing certification, " IATA
officials say.
One way the association hopes to assist safe
global travel is with the deployment of the IATA
Travel Pass, designed to help passengers, gov-

ernments, airlines and ground service providers
securely manage passengers' vaccine and testing
requirements.
Singapore Airlines, IAG, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways have all announced
partnerships with IATA to pilot the program
and assist in its development. It would not be
surprising if more stakeholders have joined this
effort by the time you read this column.
The aviation industry has endured plenty
throughout these past several months. But initiatives like the IATA Travel Pass that harness the
technology and data available are a logical step to
work our way back to pre-pandemic operations.
The industry remains resilient, but how we
address current and future travel requirements
can mean a great deal. Are travel requirements
challenges preventing success? Or are they
enabling the safe resumption of international
travel? The answer may be some of both. But the
approach taken to overcome these challenges may
ultimately be the difference.

Advertiser's Index
Air Ocean Pros............................ 40

GSE Expo .............................. 22-23

Phoenix Metal Products Inc........ 31

Alberth Aviation........................... 40

GSE International........................ 41

Engine Distributors Inc................ 44

Hydraulics International Inc......... 29

Stinar Ground Support
Equipment.................................. 7

Fortbrand Services Inc................ 41

JBT AeroTech................................ 2

Global Ground Support.................11

Mercury GSE............................... 39

42 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE

FEBRUARY 2021

Victory GSE................................. 39

february2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2021