The recent covid pandemic has exposed how fragile the aviation and, more generally, the travel sector are to external shocks.

What’s more, things get particularly messy when each country starts implementing its own measures and health requirements.

The confusion and uncertainty resulting from this maze of regulations is often more damaging than the measures themselves.

This is why some in the aviation industry have been pushing for an international framework that provides clarity and predictability to those that need to travel in troubled times.

Our guest today, Jean-Marc Bourreau, has been instrumental in the elaboration of a Policy White Paper on Harmonized Travel Requirements that the Saudi Civilian Aviation Authority (GACA) will present at the annual ICAO plenary session that will take place between the end of September and beginning of October this year.

Jean-Marc is an experienced aviation consultant, currently a partner at Consulum, a government advisory firm that is assisting the Saudi government in its quest to make of Saudi Arabia one of the global hubs of the aviation industry.

I learned about the harmonised travel requirements initiative earlier this year at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, where it was publicly presented, so I invited Jean-Marc to come on the pod so that he can share some more details about this project and what it might mean for air travellers.