IATA said the industry just needs to screen passengers at airports in infected areas, to apply rigorous procedures including isolation when handling suspected cases and fully disinfect planes afterwards.
The World Health Organization (WHO) “has been very clear that travel and trade bans are unnecessary,” Raphael Kuuchi, IATA’s vice president for Africa said. “Unless this advice changes, we hope countries working to eradicate Ebola continue to benefit from air connectivity.”
Kenya Airways, Africa’s third-largest carrier, said in the past week that it will stop flying to Liberia and Sierra Leone, which are two of the three countries (the other is Guinea) most affected by Ebola.
Gambia Bird, Asky Airlines and Nigeria’s Arik Air already have halted some flights into the area. Among major carriers, British Airways and Emirates have suspended services and Korean Air is to end flights to Nairobi on August 20.
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