Travel restrictions in many parts of the world caused by new outbreaks triggered by virus mutations and differing paces of vaccination threaten recovery prospects for the aviation industry, which is suffering its worst crisis.
However, due to travel restrictions, the number of flights has been lowered to 50-60 per year, mostly serving as medical evacuation flights from Cambodia and Myanmar, compared with 75-100 flights a year in the pre-Covid era.
Khmer Times has reliably learned from industry sources that as Cambodia ramps up Covid-19 vaccinations, it is in quiet negotiations with a one or two countries for a travel bubble to kick start its commercial airline industry, which pre pandemic, was thriving.
The lack of standards and coordination as well as the manner in which Covid-related restrictions are enforced is making recovery less predictable or sustainable, said Jeffrey Goh, chief executive of Star Alliance.
Travel is vital to being human and travel policies should support this movement through responsible and risk-based assessments, using testing and controls to protect populations and prevent further spread of the virus, said Mr Goh.
He said inoculations are key to restarting international air travel as well as avoiding quarantine, which is a threat to the recovery of the aviation industry.
Leave a comment