Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Tuesday called for universal Covid testing for international passengers and for governments to end quarantine measures. During a conference call with media, IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac said that quarantine requirements “are killing” airline efforts to recover from the pandemic and that testing all passengers before they travel should allow governments to completely end the practice. &nbsp;

 


“We have not come to this decision lightly,” said de Juniac in reference to his group’s new policy position. “The integration of systematic testing into the travel process will present logistical challenges and impact how people travel. It needs testing manufacturers to develop a test that can be deployed that is fast, accurate, scalable, affordable, and easy to operate…And it will need governments to agree on common standards so that tests administered in the departure country are accepted upon arrival.”

 


IATA advocates for antigen tests, which de Juniac said testing providers will have ready by October. On the issue of speed, the tests would take no longer than 15 minutes to yield results, as opposed to the more common polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which typically take days. The group has also called for governments to bear testing costs, each of which amounts to about $10, said de Juniac.

 


International markets continue to suffer disproportionately from the pandemic and, overall, recovery has not happened as fast or to the extent that IATA had expected earlier in the year. De Juniac lays the blame largely on the quarantine measures, which more than 80 percent of prospective passengers say precludes them from traveling, according to most recent surveys cited by IATA. The situation has led several airlines recently to announce further capacity cuts for the winter season, a reflection, said IATA chief economist Brian Pearce, of the slower-than-expected pace of recovery.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

IATA Calls for Covid Testing of All International Passengers

Antigen testing before each flight should take the place of quarantine measures, according to IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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