DFWC welcomes reopening guidance from EASA and ECDC
The European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) have released guidance detailing measures for the aviation industry to restart operations, with airports and airlines returning to normal scheduling this year.
The Duty Free World Council (DFWC) welcomes this news, stating that duty free shops should expect to operate again in the second half of 2020, adding that the association is disappointed that the guidelines have included a recommendation to temporarily restrict inflight sales. “We will continue to advocate in support of the entire duty free industry and seek the lifting of this restriction,” said DFWC President Sarah Branquinho.
DFWC is encouraged by the development in Europe, but the association adds that meaningful recovery is only possible with global cooperation. It is therefore engaging with the International Civil Aviation Organisation and other international organizations to develop global guidelines that will allow global travel to resume.
“These measures are a welcome step forward that will enable travel retailers to begin rebuilding their businesses, which have been among some of the most heavily impacted in the world by the COVID-19 outbreak,” Branquinho stated. “As an industry we have been working together to put guidelines in place to ensure that travel retail stores can provide a safe and secure environment for passengers to shop, as part of their journey.
“Travel retail is an essential part of the wider aviation industry – the value of non-aeronautical revenue for a healthy airport sector has never been clearer, and travel retail’s essential role is apparent.”
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