Aviation must keep strong focus on safety in pandemic – and eye a greener future – EASA conference concludes

COLOGNE, November 11, 2020  – The aviation industry has done well so far in ensuring that safety has not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, however it must remain vigilant on all technical and human factors affecting flight safety, while consistently applying and improving its processes to ensure health safety, according to speakers at this year’s EASA annual safety conference.  
Meanwhile, sweeping changes to reduce the industry’s long-term environmental impact are gaining pace, despite the COVID-19 crisis, and aviation is starting to see some clear paths to becoming greener, the panellists explained. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) held this year’s conference virtually, with well over 1,000 attendees.

EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky set the scene for the discussions by outlining how EASA had acted to safeguard the industry and its employees in response to the pandemic, outlining measures taken to mandate cleaning of aircraft and special approvals issued to allow the transport of cargo in passenger seats. By May, EASA working with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) had laid down measures for health-safe travel during the pandemic.

Ky made clear that, despite the very challenging situation, safe flying remained critically important for the industry. Passengers would simply not accept lapses in safety due to the pandemic. “We need now more than ever to be vigilant on aviation safety,” he said.  

Please see the press release for more information.