A transport expert and economist, however, say the Malaysian was just expounding a painful truth.

AirAsia Group’s CEO had told the BBC that the global coordination on Covid-19 was “horrific”, citing how different countries had different requirements for travellers.

“The United Nations, with the travel industry, should have come up with some standard protocols,” he said. “In my history in the aviation business, I’ve never seen something so poorly coordinated.”

Transport planning consultant Rosli Azad Khan backed Fernandes’ call for a uniform protocol for all International Air Transport Association (IATA) member countries, saying it should already be in place by now as it’s been over a year since the pandemic hit.

He told FMT that a standard protocol would allow airlines and airports to continue operating, while also benefiting hotels and food and beverage outlets in destinations.

“For example, every traveller must carry a valid test certificate to show that they (recently tested) Covid-19 negative, which airlines, airport authorities and the immigration of many different countries must accept.

“Protocols should be designed to assist rather than to prohibit, and international practices should dictate and become a model for smaller countries. In this way, the economy can continue to function, though maybe not in full swing.

“I believe this will facilitate international travel without stalling airlines or bringing them to a complete halt,” he said.

Rosli said a secondary protocol can kick in should there be any Covid-19 cases, which is where local health agencies of respective countries play their part.

“Don’t forget, there is still a period of quarantine that could still be imposed.”

He added that travellers should be made aware of these “localised” SOPs, which would be adhered to by all IATA member countries.

He also said it was rather unfair that public transportation could operate with looser SOPs while international travel was still restricted even if one were to possess valid Covid-19 negative results.

“It is rather ‘horrific’ when blind restrictions are imposed as a general rule without any valid reason or clear understanding of how such a simple protocol could prevent the collapse of an economy.

“Or in this case, a collapse of many good airlines, hotels and a chain of the travel industry.”

Malaysia University of Science and Technology’s Geoffrey Williams attributed the variance in policies in different countries to global organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) offering conflicting advice on matters like lockdowns and travel protocols.

“Because of the failure in offering effective global advice, countries have looked at their own interest and that’s why policies have varied so much,” he said, adding that one policy failure was allowing travellers from Wuhan, China, when the virus was spreading in the city.

He told FMT that governments and medical advisers should bear the responsibility for the failure of their policies, adding that the devastation caused could be seen everywhere, on top of the pandemic itself.

Williams said the only way for the aviation industry to recover would be to open up international travel and end quarantine regulations, which he acknowledged would be difficult with cases rising globally.