IATA: Strict COVID policies limit air travel recovery

Air travel is making a strong comeback, with traffic in most regions back to at least 60% of pre-pandemic levels, but the Asia-Pacific region is “lagging significantly behind,” the International Air Transport Association reports. The aviation industry cannot fully recover until Asian countries lift restrictive policies such as entry caps and requirements for quarantine and testing, Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, said at the Changi Aviation Summit, specifically calling out China and Japan.