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As the travel industry deals with the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) calls for widening testing capabilities and requirements across the European Union as a better alternative to blanket travel restrictions.
Interim Executive Director of GBTA Dave Hilfman
“Sudden and unilateral shifts in government response, such as imposition of quarantines or border closures, take a heavy toll on the travel industry, further impeding economic recovery and causing chaos for travelers,” says GBTA Executive Director Dave Hilfman, who is also an airline industry veteran. “Increased testing is what we need to restart travel safely. It will restore confidence and revive travel demand whilst preventing new waves of infection. Borders cannot stay closed indefinitely; the economy needs trade to resume with people back to work and traveling.”
GBTA is encouraged by airlines and airports pledging to uphold the strictest safety standards. Requiring travelers to present negative COVID-19 test results before boarding aircrafts would bring necessary additional certainty. However, this is only possible if Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) nasal swab tests, which detect COVID-19 infections caused by the novel coronavirus, are freely and widely available. The EU has a key role to play to encourage all its Member States to invest in the research, development, distribution, and capacity of COVID-19 testing.
Some EU governments have already announced that they will make COVID-19 testing obligatory for travelers from a definite number of countries. GBTA understands these unilateral decisions but believes a coordinated approach on testing at EU level is necessary.
“The European Commission should work with EU governments to unlock appropriate funding to expand testing capacity, improve the accuracy of data and speed of information sharing,” adds Hilfman. “This is a pre-requisite to resurrecting travel and accelerating Europe’s economic recovery.”
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[07.30.20]
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The Transportation Alliance (TTA) is moving ahead with plans for Mobilize 2020, the association’s 102nd Annual Convention & Expo, to be held November 7-9 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. Operators can now register and the Exhibitor Prospectus for the event is now available to all vendors.
“This is a vital time for our industry to join together and focus on the road to economic recovery,” said TTA President Thomas Arrighi. “For more than a century, TTA has been the backbone of this industry’s remarkable resiliency. This year’s annual convention will provide an informative and innovative environment for the world’s top transportation executives and vendors to effectively determine how our industry moves forward.”
As the association continues to plan for the convention, TTA is announcing the release of Mobilize 2020’s Exhibitor Prospectus and Registration form. The Exhibitor Prospectus’ exclusive release to TTA’s Associate Members has enjoyed strong early support with a third of booths in phase one of the Expo Hall already sold months ahead of the event.
With “The Road to Economic Recovery” as its tagline, Mobilize 2020 will have a strong focus on how transportation operators can best recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the Expo Hall, where top vendors showcase their latest products and services for the industry, the event will feature a slate of educational sessions in which fleet executives share winning strategies and tactics to weather the economic downturn.
Organizers are focused on making the event safe and comfortable for all attendees, and will employ the recommended convention safety measures by the hotel and health officials.
Operators and industry vendors can find more show information and registration materials for Mobilize 2020 here. Specific questions can be sent via email to info@thetransportationalliance.org.
Visit thetransportationalliance.org for more information and the latest updates.
[07.30.20]
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NFI Group, a leading independent bus and motorcoach manufacturer, recently announced a companywide transformational initiative called “NFI Forward” to rationalize its business units and facilities.
“While we have been working to streamline our businesses to enhance competitiveness by leveraging scale, expertise, and capability, the drastic and unanticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to revisit our unique business definitions,” NFI President & CEO Paul Soubry. “The first major activity of NFI Forward is the immediate combination of New Flyer and MCI into one business, and to ensure a smooth transition [former MCI President] Ian Smart has been appointed Executive Vice President, Business Transformation of NFI to lead the effort.”
NFI President & CEO Paul Soubry
New Flyer and MCI have legacies of product excellence dating back to the 1930s. The combined entity will retain both market-leading brands and will operate under the leadership of New Flyer President Chris Stoddart.
“Leveraging North America’s largest team of experts in bus and coach technology and design, manufacturing, and support, we are keen to continue executing on our innovation agenda,” said Chris Stoddart. “I look forward to working with Ian to ensure a seamless combination of our businesses, and to enhancing the competitiveness of all New Flyer and MCI product and service offerings.”
“We know the past several months have been extremely hard on all of our customers, and our primary focus was to continue providing exceptional customer care as they responded to the pandemic,” said Smart. “The dramatic drop off of the motorcoach market, as well as the challenges resulting from COVID-19, presented an opportunity to integrate MCI into New Flyer, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective combined business. Unfortunately, it also means the elimination of certain executive roles, and I want to recognize and thank those affected for all that they contributed to MCI and to our customers for so many years.”
The combined entity will continue offering all models of New Flyer transit buses and MCI motorcoaches, which is among the industry’s widest range of models and propulsion systems. MCI public market sales will be combined under New Flyer Vice President of Sales & Marketing Jennifer McNeill, while MCI private market sales will be led by Vice President, Private Sector Sales & Marketing Brent Maitland. Pat Ziska will continue to lead private new coach sales team, while Steve Batho will continue to lead MCI technical customer support and service centers.
“At NFI, we exist to move people, and our dedication to customers remains unwavering,” said Soubry. “We will overcome the incredible impact from this pandemic and will keep communities moving safely as we continue to lead the migration to smarter vehicles and develop more environmentally responsible platforms.”
Visit mcicoach.com or newflyer.com for more information.
[07.29.20]