Qantas A380 taking off on the runway in Saxony, Dresden on August 21, 2020
Tino Plunert | images alliance | Getty Images
SINGAPORE – Asia-Pacific airline stocks were on the move on Tuesday after a flurry of announcements broadly boosted prospects for international air travel.
Australian Qantas Airways’ shares rose 3.14% on Tuesday, while Air New Zealand’s shares soared 5.8%.
These actions soared when New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the “travel bubble” between her country and Australia will begin on April 19.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s aviation regulator said that in May the country will begin accepting travelers using the International Air Transport Association (IATA) mobile travel pass for pre-departure checks. Singapore Airlines shares rose 0.54% in Tuesday afternoon trading.
“Having the confidence of an aviation leader like Singapore in the IATA Travel Pass is extremely significant,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s managing director, in a statement.
“Ongoing tests put us on the path to making the IATA Travel Pass a critical tool for the industry to restart, providing health credentials on verified travel to governments. And travelers can have complete confidence that their personal data is safe and secure. under your own control, “said Walsh. .
Elsewhere, Korean Air Lines ‘shares rose 0.18%, while Japan’s airlines’ shares lagged behind the broader region. Japan Airlines fell 2.44%, while ANA Holdings fell 2.31%.
Local media reported that Covid-19 quasi-emergency measures were implemented as of Monday in several prefectures in Japan, in an effort to stem the resurgence of infections.
The air travel industry is among the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, as global authorities have tightened border restrictions to stem the spread of the virus.