Europe’s aviation industry welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for a Digital Green Certificate system as a key step to support the restart of travel.
It requires EU States to issue common, inter-operable and mutually-recognised certificates for Covid-19 vaccination, testing and recovery status that will open up free movement.
Industry associations Airlines for Europe (A4E), ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International), ASD (Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe), CANSO, European Regions Airline Association (ERA), and International Air Transport Association (IATA) say these certificates are a key tool to facilitate a safe and efficient resumption of travel and tourism in Europe.
They called on the EU Council and the European Parliament to urgently approve the Commission’s proposal, and for all EU States to start preparing for their implementation.
A recent survey showed 54% of Europeans aim to take a trip before the end of July 2021, revealing the strong pent-up travel demand.
The associations wants EU governments to ensure certificates are ready in time for the peak summer travel months – with vaccination certificates, in particular, enabling the elimination of all travel restrictions.
In contrast to the restart roadmap set out by the UK, the EU has yet to outline a strategy leaving tourism businesses in the dark and breeding uncertainty about summer travel.
They said work on a roadmap should begin now, which should follow a risk-based and data-driven approach to the acceleration of the vaccine roll-out across the EU over the coming months.
The latest data released by ACI EUROPE shows over 7,500 lost air routes across Europe’s transport network has just been passed and air passenger traffic remains in the doldrums as a direct consequence of current restrictions.
"We welcome the European Commission’s adoption of the proposal for a Digital Green Certificate. The EC has our full support, and we call on the European Parliament and Council to work on its swift adoption via an emergency procedure," the leaders of the associations said.
