By Elishya Perera
MONTRÉAL, Québec (CWBN)_ The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed displeasure over the Canadian government’s failure to provide satisfactory support measures for the country’s aviation sector in its Fall Economic Statement.
The Association further called on the Canadian government to use testing instead of quarantining those who enter the country.
Criticising the government for its failure to provide the promised support package, Regional Vice President in the Americas for IATA, Peter Cerdá, said that Canada has some of the most “draconian” COVID-19 measures which have put the air transport sector in a “tailspin”.
“The government has been stating for months that it is working on a vital support package for Canada’s airlines. It has failed to deliver thus far. Other governments see the need for financial support as an investment in economic recovery and have supported the industry with US$173 billion,” he said.
Pandemic-induced border closures and quarantines are considered to be two of the biggest obstacles in reviving the aviation industry, and both these measures have been extended to January 21 by the Canadian government.
“In addition to financial support, the government needs a plan to re-connect Canadians internally and to the world. Quarantines kill demand for air travel and destroy jobs across the travel and tourism sector. COVID-19 testing for travel would keep Canadians safe and save jobs. This is an emergency,” Cerdá said.
He urged the Canadian government to apply the same speed and determination which shut connectivity down, when expanding testing as a safe option to re-establish the connectivity.
The Regional Vice President of the Association also pointed out the crucial role played by the industry in bringing vaccines in to the country and distributing them across the vast expanse of the nation.
“The sector is in a crisis as never before. At the same time its value in linking people, supporting jobs and delivering goods – like vaccines – has never been more crucial. The government is under pressure to control the pandemic and support the economy. A plan for aviation will help it do both. And there is no time to spare,” he said.
IATA’s Value of Air Transport Report in 2019 reported that Canada’s air transport sector contributed CA$51.4 billion (US$40.11 billion) to the country’s annual GDP, while another CA$16.7 billion (US$13.03 billion) of GDP was contributed by spending of tourists arriving by air, which, in total, amounted a 3.2 per cent of Canada’s GDP.
