On Thursday, 17 March 2022, Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits met with Mr Zigmārs Vestfāls, a member of the Board of the Latvian Aviation Association, to discuss the current situation and challenges in the industry, as well as the call for lifting the remaining Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Minister Linkaits admitted that the aviation industry had been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years, it has gradually started to recover and show better and better indicators this year because the population is longing for travel, and business tourism has gradually returned to its daily pace. However, the Russia’s war in Ukraine this spring came as a new blow, and the situation is changing rapidly again, so it is now crucial to remove all additional restrictive factors that could hinder the aviation sector’s adaptation to new conditions and further development.
The Minister of Transport agrees with the statement of the Latvian Aviation Association that the lifting of restrictions and the restoration of freedom of travel is an essential stimulus for the growth of the entire tourism and travel industry.
Mr Zigmārs Vestfāls stated, “Latvian Aviation Association thanks the Minister of Transport and the entire ministry team for their support in resolving the issues pertaining to the Covid-19 crisis and expresses hope that the Latvian aviation industry will continue to play a very important role in our national economy and become a stronger player in the Baltic and Northern European markets.”
This week, the Airports Council International in Europe (ACI EUROPE) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a call for the lifting of all health restrictions before the summer season, at least for flights within the European Economic Area, in particular for checks, contact tracing and vaccination certificates. The Association also calls for the harmonization of health restrictions in the aviation sector with those that apply within countries.