Can’t wait for majority to be vaccinated, need to open borders now: IATA DG

Countries across the world should not wait for the majority of people to be vaccinated against coronavirus and need to open their borders by implementing systematic pre-departure testing, IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac said on Monday.

“Our own surveys show that the vast majority of travellers treat quarantine as they would a complete border closure. They just won’t travel,” he said in a pre-recorded video message at the IATA Global Media Days event.

That is why, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for systematic pre-departure COVID-19 testing instead of open borders with quarantine, he added.