The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged all governments to follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidance and immediately scrap travel bans.
Public health organisations, including the WHO, have advised against travel curbs to contain the spread of Omicron.
"Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivising countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data," the WHO has said.
"After nearly two years with Covid-19 we know a lot about the virus and the inability of travel restrictions to control its spread. But the discovery of the Omicron variant induced instant amnesia on governments which implemented knee-jerk restrictions," said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
"The goal is to move away from the uncoordinated mess that travellers face. As governments agreed at ICAO and in line with the WHO advice, all measures should be time-bound and regularly reviewed. It is unacceptable that rushed decisions have created fear and uncertainty among travellers," said Walsh.
