Mr Walsh, who became director general of the global airline industry body earlier this month, said the aviation industry needs governments to be clear about their timelines on lifting restrictions to help the sector recover.
Mr Walsh also urged global leaders to cut the cost of PCR testing for Covid-19 to ensure everyone can afford to travel, not just the wealthy.
“If I turn the clock back about six months, most airline CEOs were talking about getting moving again in the second quarter, and we’ve clearly missed that,” Mr Walsh said, at the virtual World Aviation Festival on Tuesday.
“We need governments to set out a plan to give an indication as to when it's likely that they will start relaxing the restrictions in place so that people can start booking with confidence.”
The global aviation industry has been hammered by the Covid-19 pandemic, causing what Mr Walsh described as the worst financial crisis for the sector in history.
“We've come through a terrible time, this crisis has lasted much longer, it's deeper than anybody would have expected,” he said.
Iata’s recovery strategy centres on a Travel Pass, a digital health passport that allows travellers to share Covid-19 test and vaccine certificates with airport authorities, airlines and governments.
Mr Walsh said the concept is being tested in airports, with Etihad Airways passengers among the first to trial the pass.
Passengers travelling between Abu Dhabi Airport and Chicago, New York, Washington and Toronto are able to download the app and then book an appointment with an accredited testing facility until the middle of May.
The former British Airways and IAG chief said airports will not be able to function unless the organisation can provide a digital solution.
It's chaos when people are at a check-in counter and looking for their PCR test.
“It’s chaos when people are at a check-in counter and looking for their PCR test and people have to check it,” he said.
“We've got to get a digital solution so that you know people can travel in as seamless a way as possible."
Mr Walsh also hit out at the high cost of PCR testing, accusing some companies of profiteering from the Covid-19 tests and urging the industry to challenge whether PCR tests are necessary.
While some governments had mandated PCR tests, they were then charging VAT on the cost of the testing, Mr Walsh said, a scenario that can make PCR tests more expensive than short flights.
"We're clearly seeing evidence of profiteering by people who have jumped on the testing bandwagon. It’s unacceptable,” he said.
"The cost of testing should be significantly lower than it is. I think we've got to challenge whether PCR testing is necessary."
Mr Walsh criticised the UK in particular, saying passengers that fly in for three-day trips for business or medical reasons must buy a package in advance to do a test on day two and day eight after their arrival in the country, even though they will miss the second test as they have already flown out.
“This is a scam. Everybody should object when we see evidence of people being ripped off,” he said. “We can't have a situation where only the wealthy are in a position to travel. That would be a shame and disgrace.”
Earlier this month Mr Walsh said airlines will challenge suppliers and airports, including Heathrow, that look to cover their pandemic losses by raising charges.
He said moves by some suppliers to increase costs was “total madness in this environment”.
Looking ahead, Mr Walsh said he was optimistic for the future of the aviation sector, in particular the second half of the year when he expects passenger movement to have increased significantly.
“We’re seeing good indications from the domestic markets and that's pretty positive, because it clearly demonstrates that people want to fly and there is very strong demand," he said.
“We’ve witnessed that when restrictions on travel have been relaxed or removed, there's an immediate bounce back. So, it's only a matter of time for the industry to get back to moving at full pace again.”
He pointed to the US and China where domestic travel has returned to the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019 for the leisure market, however he said business travel is still significantly suppressed.
“It will take time for business travel to recover. Some people have commented that it's not going to get back to where it was because people have embraced technology,” he said.
While technology has enabled the business community to function and do business using platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft, Mr Walsh said it was no replacement for being able to “sit down and meet people”.
He expects momentum to build up across the board during the second half of this year.
“We've got to be very optimistic about 2022,” he said.
More on Aviation
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Boost for British airlines and airports as domestic flight tax cut planned
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
