The "Takeoff" guidelines have been devised by the International Civil Aviation Authority’s Covid-19 aviation recovery task force in partnership with governments, health experts and aviation industry stakeholders.

They set out a "layered" approach to reducing the risk of coronavirus transmission while travelling by air, which the WTTC says complement its own Safe Travels protocols and stamp, debuted last month.

"Safety and hygiene measures taken across the travel experience will be key to rebuilding the confidence of travellers and restarting travel and tourism," said WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara.

The taskforce’s work is broken down into four key strands: airport; aircraft; crew; and cargo, each with their own guidelines. They have been developed following consultation with national governments, regionals, organisations, the World Health Organization, and aviation bodies such as Iata.

Each stage of the passenger journey has been assessed, from arrival at the terminal through check-in, security, boarding, the flight and disembarkation to baggage reclaim and onward journeys. For crew, this also includes lay over and preserving a clean and safe cabin environment.

Guevara added that now the aviation sector had a set of guidelines around which it could align globally, it was important government’s followed suit. "We now urge governments to adopt them and best practices as quickly as possible so we can save a sector that is already in a fight for survival," she said.