May is a month of rebirth. Trees look greener than they do all year round. A fresh breeze and light rain fans this greenness as the natural world wakes up. It’s a good time for looking at life anew. Sunny spells and showers come and go as we take stock of the spring.
Worldwide COVID-19 pandemic deaths are up to just over 3.3 million[1]. Despite the successes of its suppression in the UK, the virus continues to rage around the world. Sadly, desperation continues to spread across India. On the positive side, vaccination plans are successfully being implemented. I’m more than ready for my second jab in just over a week’s time.
What hasn’t changed is that aviation chiefs continue to provide roadmaps to bring back some semblance of normal but often sit back mystified at Government reactions and peculiar decisions.
For international travel, to and from the UK, a curious traffic light system[2] is being put in place in the UK. Unfortunately, there’s a lack of transparency as to why countries are categorised as they are in this unique national system. Obviously, it’s better than a national lockdown with unending uncertainty but there’s little to be happy about.
On entry control, the practice of quarantine hotels is unpopular and of highly questionable effectiveness. They are a crude measure that is discriminating, expensive and unsustainable.
The European Union (EU) has been slow in reaction and is still testing COVID-19 vaccination, test, and recovery certificates. There are reports that this system is on-track to be rolled out next month.
It’s a miserable time to travel across borders. Plans are made and cancelled and re-made. Travellers are often left out of pocket and in limbo. Yes, these are extraordinary circumstances but as advanced nations our general performance in managing the situation is remarkably poor.
Although UK Government decisions are said to be guided by evidence and the science, there’s a fair amount of ideology driving decisions contrary common sense.
Surprisingly, if the recent round of elections is anything to go by, the UK Government is sitting pretty. Now, its political opponents who are the ones who are struggling. Commentators have speculated that this is a kind of national Stockholm syndrome[3]. I wonder.
Post Coronavirus recovery of UK air traffic may not be seen until the end of 2022.
The EU has developed a broad system of relationships with neighbouring states. Post Brexit there remains lots of loose ends in the relationship between EU and UK. In fact, it’s probably time to stop using the word Brexit altogether. It’s not a meaningful word looking forward.
Calls for a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) and a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) between the EU and UK are muted but their importance remains. Aviation and aerospace industry voices are being ignored.
[1] Worldwide (from Johns Hopkins): Deaths: 3,322,294.
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/traffic-light-system-safe-return-to-international-travel
[3] What is Stockholm syndrome? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22447726
John Vincent 