JOHANNESBURG, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Aviation industry in the world has to improve their skills, use technology and address challenges to recover from the COVID-19, said South African Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Thursday at the National Aviation Conference 2021.

He pointed out that the sector has to be flexible and implement innovative ways to quickly recover from the pandemic.

"We need to dig deeper for technical advantages which will assist the aviation industry to recover and grow. We have to put South Africa on a new growth path using technology. Skills are in short supply in the sector... as the economies open there would be competition for skills in the sector," he said.

He called on the aviation industry to respond proactively to global warming and avoid polluting the world.

Alex Stancu, head of South and East Africa region at International Air Transport Association, said opening of the borders, successful COVID-19 vaccine roll-out program as well as risk mitigation would help the aviation to recover.

"There is an urgent need to reopen the borders and restore the corporate and leisure travel confidence. We have to stimulate the desire for consumers that it's safe to travel and give incentives. The removal of restrictions is key to economic recovery. There should be a balance between public and socio-economic objectives," He said.

He believed that there must be a balance between combating the COVID-19 and reviving the industry and economic growth.

He said the aviation employees should be prioritized in the vaccine roll-out because of the work of they do and contribution to the economy.

Stancu called on the governments to work with aviation sector to come with blueprint on the approach and acceptance of vaccine certificates. Enditem

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