IATA
IATA continues to call for the Canadian Government to provide financial support to aviation industry. Credit: John McArthur / Unsplash.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged the Canadian Government to support the country’s aviation industry amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The organisation has ‘expressed deep disappointment and frustration’ as the government failed to provide concrete support measures for the sector so far.

It has called for financial support to keep the sector active and asked governments to use testing for travellers to avoid quarantine.

The Canadian aviation sector contributed C$51.4bn ($39bn) to the country’s annual GDP, according to IATA’s Value of Air Transport Report in 2019.

IATA The Americas regional vice-president Peter Cerdá said: “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 $173bn.

“Canada has some of the most draconian Covid-19 measures, which have essentially shut down most air connectivity and put the sector in a tailspin.”

Recently, the country’s authorities have extended travel restrictions for non-US citizens and the mandatory 14-day quarantine rule for all arriving travellers until 21 January 2021.

Last week, IATA airline members unanimously urged to use testing and re-open borders to travel without quarantine during its 76th Annual General Meeting.

In October, IATA again called on governments worldwide to provide additional financial support to aviation as pandemic continues to affect passenger traffic.

Cerdá added: “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.

“The same speed and determination that shut connectivity down needs to be applied to supporting testing as the safe option to re-establishing connectivity, bringing families together, and catalysing the economy.”