IATA slams Canada’s new Covid testing rule
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has joined local airlines in slamming Canada’s new rule that all inbound passengers be tested before departure.
While many counties have imposed similar rules to avoid a mandatory quarantine, Canada is adding testing while maintaining the requirement for quarantine.
The PCR testing rule takes effect from 7 January 2021.
IATA calls it the ‘worst of both worlds.’
"It is both callous and impractical to impose this new requirement on travelers at such short notice. Canada already has one of the world’s most draconian Covid-19 border control regimes, including travel bans and quarantines. Even though Covid-19 testing is an internationally accepted risk-mitigation strategy, there are no plans to adjust the current 14-day quarantine rule," IATA said.
It requires all passengers aged five years and above to have proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel.
"The way forward is through a well-planned and coordinated introduction of testing inbound travelers, as a replacement for quarantine measures. At current infection levels, testing travelers will ensure that opening borders will not pose additional risk of contagion in Canada," IATA added.
Canadian airlines criticized the government for the lack of concrete information. With many questions left unanswered.
"We do not have the interim orders in writing — it’s from the interim orders that you base your operations and obligations. We’re very concerned about the confusion that’s going to occur and the disjointedness of implementation that’s going occur. And it all could have been avoided," said National Airlines Council of Canada CEO Mike McNaney.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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