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 latest data collected by the International Air Transport Association shows that more than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted restrictions for vaccinated travelers, reflecting what IATA called data- and evidence-driven decision making. The association supports unrestricted access to travel for vaccinated travelers and quarantine-free travel for unvaccinated individuals cleared through free-of-charge Covid testing.

 


IATA cited Germany as one of the latest countries to relax quarantine mandates for vaccinated travelers. Those travelers and ones who have tested negative for Covid no longer must submit to quarantine measures, except for those from certain high-risk countries.

 


The German government decision followed a review of scientific advice from the&nbsp;Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which concluded that vaccinated travelers no longer present a significant risk of spread of the disease and do not pose a major risk to the German population.&nbsp;Specifically, it said that vaccination reduces the risk of Covid-19 transmission to levels below the risk from those who receive&nbsp;a false negative rapid antigen test.

 


The implementation of the policy aligns Germany with recommendations from both the European Commission and the European Parliament, based on similar scientific advice from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). In its&nbsp;interim guidance&nbsp;on the benefits of full vaccination, the ECDC assessed the likelihood of an infected vaccinated person transmitting the disease as “very low to low.”

 


In the U.S., the&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)&nbsp;has noted that pre-travel testing, post-travel testing, and a seven-day self-quarantine provide “minimal additional benefit” to those who have received a 90 percent effective vaccine.

 


“A safe opening of borders to international travel is the goal,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh. “And scientific evidence and data such as that presented by RKI, ECDC, and U.S. CDC should be the basis for the decision-making needed to achieve that.”

 


According to the U.S. CDC, relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions acts as a powerful motivator for vaccination, particularly in communities where vaccine hesitancy is prevalent. Meanwhile, IATA polling indicates that 81 percent of international travelers expressed a willingness to get vaccinated to travel. Moreover, 74 percent of people in the same poll agreed that those vaccinated shouldn’t face restrictions when traveling by air.

 


IATA noted that the decisions of increasing numbers of countries to accept vaccinated travelers without quarantine measures add pressure for a digital “solution” to manage vaccine certificates and Covid-19 test results. Paper-based processes could lead to extremely long processing times at check-in and border control and introduce an opportunity for fraud, said the association. “Digital vaccine/test certificates, coupled with passenger apps such as IATA’s Travel Pass, will be needed to manage travel health credentials efficiently and securely in the restart,” it concluded.

 


“A gap is opening up between countries responding to scientific evidence&nbsp;and those exhibiting a lack of preparation or excessive caution in reopening borders,” said Walsh. “Countries that seize the opportunity offered by the increasing numbers of vaccinated travelers can protect their populations and reap an economic reward.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

IATA Applauds Opening Borders to Vaccinated Travelers

Germany becomes one of the latest countries to relax quarantine mandates, drawing praise from IATA.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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.

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

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.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

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

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

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.

More In Airlines

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

ATR Chases New Regional Markets for Twin Turboprops

Iran war and wider geopolitical pressure stall buying decisions

Embraer Racks Up E-Jet Orders at Farnborough

30 firm orders led by Abra

Gulf Air May Buy JetZero’s Blended-wing-body Z4

Japan Airlines also expresses interest at Farnborough Airshow

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN