"Summer Voyage Renewal": initiative promoting the lifting of EU border restrictions
The European travel and tourism industry is gearing up for a summer like no other, as four leading aviation, travel, and tourism associations have launched the "Destination Summer" campaign. The coalition, which includes the European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC), Airlines for Europe (A4E), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), among others, is urging travel and tourism associations, policymakers, and stakeholders throughout Europe to support the safe reopening of European borders.
The Destination Summer campaign is a response to the ongoing vaccination campaigns, growing scientific evidence regarding vaccine efficacy, increased testing capacities, and improvements in the epidemiological situation in Europe. The campaign's primary objective is to ensure a smooth, efficient, and enjoyable summer travel season across Europe.
To achieve this, the campaign has set key demands: delivering agreed air traffic capacities to handle the surge in passenger numbers during the summer, minimizing impacts of adverse weather on flight schedules and operations, prioritizing first rotation flights to set a reliable schedule from the start of daily operations, filing and sticking to realistic flight plans to improve predictability and network efficiency, and ensuring flight schedules themselves are realistic, balancing demand and operational capabilities.
These demands are not new, but the campaign aims to bring a coordinated effort among all stakeholders—airlines, airports, air traffic management, and tourism bodies—to manage increased summer travel demand effectively while minimizing disruptions. This collaborative approach, often branded under initiatives such as EUROCONTROL’s #thinkNetwork campaign, encourages all actors in the European aviation ecosystem to work together and act responsibly on these demands to make summer travel as efficient as possible for passengers.
The Destination Summer campaign also aims to avoid unfair discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers. Olivier Jankovec, Director General at Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE), emphasizes the public's desire to travel safely and the importance of ensuring safety measures for a quicker and longer-term recovery.
Julie Lassaigne, Secretary-General at the European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC), assures that the reopening of travel and tourism in Europe this summer can be a reality. She emphasizes its importance for the health and wellbeing of citizens and the long-term vitality of the European travel and tourism value chain. Thomas Reynaert, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe (A4E), supports the campaign for a coordinated easing of travel restrictions in the EU, citing the need for freedom of movement and the positive impact of vaccinations.
Rafael Schvartzman, Regional Vice President for Europe at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlights a survey showing 76% of people wanting to travel to see family and friends as soon as possible. He emphasizes the potential for testing and vaccinations to safely reconnect people and restart the travel and tourism sector.
People can show their support for the Destination Summer campaign by sharing their desire to travel while following clear rules and official information. The campaign's official website provides information on the campaign's goals and ways to show support. As Europe prepares for a summer of travel, the Destination Summer campaign is a beacon of hope for a safe and enjoyable summer for all.
[1] Source: Destination Summer campaign website.
- The Destination Summer campaign, launched by leading aviation, travel, and tourism associations, aims to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer travel season across Europe.
- To achieve this, the campaign has set key demands, such as delivering agreed air traffic capacities, minimizing weather impacts, filing realistic flight plans, and avoiding unfair discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers.
- The campaign also highlights the public's desire to travel, with 76% wanting to see family and friends as soon as possible, and the potential for testing and vaccinations to safely reconnect people and restart the travel and tourism sector.
- The reopening of travel and tourism in Europe this summer is crucial for the health and wellbeing of citizens and the long-term vitality of the European travel and tourism value chain.
- People can show their support for the Destination Summer campaign by sharing their desire to travel while following clear rules and official information, available on the campaign's official website.
