Post Pandemic Facilitation of Air Transport: Legal, Political and Economic Aspects

From early 2020 for a period of two years at the end of which this book was written, air transport suffered unprecedented setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic may eventually fizzle out into another flu like occurrence, the restraint with which air transport services were offered would remain with us for a while with some practices being sustained, particularly those pertaining to public health. One of the main areas of air transport that was and will be affected significantly by the changed circumstances - is facilitation - a subject that is regulated by the Chicago Convention of 1944 and its Annex 9. This book looks in depth at the Annex as it will be applied in a post pandemic world, against its legal, socio-political, and economic impacts, addressing the Standards of the Annex on clearance of aircraft; entry and departure of passengers; and the carriage of cargo. It also discusses some critical aviation events in 2020 and 2021 that occurred as they relate to facilitation of air transport. Some of the key areas discussed are the role of ICAO; issues of public health as they relate to air transport; security of travel documents; smuggling of persons; digital technology and rights of the passenger; unruly passengers; carriage of disabled passengers; relief flights and repatriation flights; and facilities at airports.

Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne has worked in the field of aviation law and management for forty years. He is currently Senior Associate, Air Law and Policy at Aviation Strategies International, and visiting professor, air law and policy, at McGill University.

At retirement from the International Civil Aviation Organization after 23 years of service at various senior positions in air transport and air law, Dr. Abeyratne was Coordinator, Air transport Programmes as well as Senior Legal Officer, heading the Treaty Office of ICAO.

Dr. Abeyratne, holds the degree of doctor of civil laws (DCL) from McGill University, the degree of doctor of philosophy (PhD) from the University of Colombo, the degree of master of laws (LL.M) from Monash University, Victoria, Australia, and the degree of bachelor of laws (LL.B) from the University of Colombo. Dr. Abeyratne is the author of 36 books and 450 peer reviewed papers in academic and professional journals and edited volumes.