European coordination on latest travel developments
22 June 2021 - Directors General of ECAC Member States and representatives of DG MOVE, EASA and EUROCONTROL met virtually in June for their regular coordination meeting to discuss the latest developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director General of EUROCONTROL provided updates on the traffic situation, which was finally showing an upward trend and pointing towards a resumption of travel activities for the summer season. The gradual lifting of travel restrictions in many Member States, together with an increased number of vaccinated persons, confirmed the demand for travel. The participants voiced some concerns, however, over the multiplication of checkpoints for health and travel documents. They welcomed the updated EASA/ECDC COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol published on 17 June 2021 and urged States to follow the recommendations, which include granting certain exemptions to vaccinated persons (such as from testing and quarantine requirements) and the need to have a single checkpoint for health and travel documents at departure.
Participants shared information on the latest travel requirements and were given a briefing on ICAO matters, including on the latest ICAO Council discussion, the CART’s planned work and preparations for the High-Level Conference on COVID-19 (HLCC2021) to be held in October 2021.