IRU joined travel and tourism bodies and unions across Europe in an unprecedented call for European Commission leadership in ending quarantine restrictions and developing an EU Testing Protocol for Travel – in a bid to save the livelihoods of more than 27 million Europeans who work in the sector.

IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto participated in two World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) panels on logistics and customs management this week. In a first discussion, he expressed his views on post-COVID road transport alongside UPS Chairman, David Abney, Accenture’s Freight and Logistics Director, Christopher Logan, and DP World’s CEO, Sultan Ahmmed Bin Sulayem. 

IRU’s first COVID-19 Impact Report demonstrated just how bad the pandemic has been for passenger transport companies. The report estimates revenue losses of 57% for European firms alone in 2020. Bus and coach services for tourists are suffering the most, with losses in that segment in Europe expected to reach 82% this year.

With the impact of the pandemic still being felt throughout the road transport industry, many small and medium enterprises are struggling to survive. Direct government financial support for these companies is urgently needed to prevent bankruptcies and job losses, and to support broader economic recovery.