Airline-industry groups are among 25 travel and tourism organizations that have called on the European Commission (EC) to replace quarantines with a common testing protocol for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

While some travel restrictions have been lifted within national borders, cross-border travel within the EU Schengen Area countries is being treated differently without justification, the organizations say, pointing the finger at quarantine requirements.

The organizations call on the EC to take the lead in developing an EU-wide testing protocol for exposure to the coronavirus that would allow for the removal or reduction of quarantine requirements. They say the testing approach would bring the travel and tourism sectors in line with other sectors, “for which states are not following a zero-risk strategy.”

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