There is no doubt of Africa’s potential as an air transport market, but while governments continue to block funds and procrastinate on liberalization, they also block their own economic growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new united front: a call for everyone to work together in a common quest for a global set of travel and health standards so that international borders can reopen.

There’s a lot of talk about how the COVID-19 coronavirus adapts, and understandable concern about the infection rates of new mutations. What’s often overlooked, however, is how significantly humans have adapted, individually and as collectives, and how much has been learned over the past 18 months.

The UK government has said throughout the pandemic that it was working in partnership with the air transport industry on when and how to re-open international travel. But airlines and airports appear to have reached the end of their patience with talks that are leading nowhere, and some are looking to a legal remedy. 

There was a time when airline executives believed supersonic flight would become ubiquitous on long-haul routes.

The UK government’s abrupt reversal on allowing its citizens to travel to Portugal for vacation has severe immediate and long-term repercussions for airlines and the travel industry.

The hijacking of a commercial airliner in any circumstances is a disturbing and criminal act. For such action to be organized and authorized by a state government is truly shocking.

The outlook for summer 2021 may be looking brighter than was the case in summer 2020, but questions remain over how long COVID-19 safety precautions will linger for airline passengers.