From Grounded to Take-Off
By Katie Kraft, WTS-DC
On August 5, WTS-DC collaborated with the Transportation Research Forum (TRF-DC) and Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT-DC) to present “From Grounded to Take-Off: A Discussion on Domestic and International Aviation Recovery.” The virtual discussion examined the impact of COVID-19 on domestic and international travel as well as the steps that countries, airlines, and airports are taking to ensure a safe, secure, and resilient air transportation system. The panel of industry experts discussed the role that their perspective organizations have played in safeguarding the flying experience and provided insights on how public health fits into long-term recovery strategies. The virtual event marked the organizations' 11th year of hosting a summer event.
More than 100 participants enjoyed hearing from Carey Fagan, Director of the Asia-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration; Dr. Ansa Jordaan, Chief of the Aviation Medicine Section, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and Annie Russo, Senior Vice President of Government and Political Affairs, Airports Council International-North America. Peter Cerda, Regional Vice President of the Americas, International Air Transport Association (IATA), moderated the discussion.
The lively conversation began with a summary of the pandemic’s impact on the aviation industry and experts’ best estimates of the “time to recovery” (to 2019 levels) for domestic and international air traffic. The panelists emphasized that the “new normal” of the pandemic has brought about a drastic change in passenger behavior and the need for the aviation industry to work together to put passengers back in the air. During the question and answer session, the panelists agreed that the biggest challenges facing the industry are two-fold: harmonizing the industry’s approach to air travel after the pandemic and ensuring that passengers understand the measures in place to make air travel as safe as possible for the consumer.
Be sure to read YPT-DC's event recap!