New research shows travel restrictions in the EU had little or no impact on the spread of Omicron  

New analysis produced by Oxera and Edge Health revealed that pre-departure testing requirements are likely to be ineffective at stopping or even limiting the spread of the Omicron variant. The analysis of testing restrictions imposed by Italy and Finland on 16 December and 28 December 2021 respectively on all incoming travellers made no distinguishable difference to transmission of Omicron cases in those countries. Conversely, the impact of these restrictions, and in particular the limitations to the free movement of people, resulted in significant and unnecessary economic hardship – not just for the travel and tourism sectors and their workforce, but for the whole European economy.

With the new regime for intra-EU/EEA travel adopted by the EU Council on the 22 February 2022, and in light of the robust data now made public, ACI EUROPE and IATA urged those countries which continue to deviate from the common EU framework to rapidly align with it.

Find out more in the joint statement issued by ACI EUROPE and IATA.