Travel guides say they support all efforts to free the world from the coronavirus pandemic – with the exception of a mandate that would require passengers to present a negative COVID-19 test before flying.
American, United, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue airline CEOs held a virtual meeting with White House officials on Friday to discuss the proposal. Everyone – as well as key industry metrics – said such a mandate would do more harm than good for US carriers.
“We had a very positive, constructive conversation that focused on our shared commitment to science-based action as we work together to end the pandemic, restore air traffic, and lead our nation toward recovery,” said Nick Calio, director the Airlines for America trade group said in a statement.
The meeting was arranged after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that such a test requirement was being considered.
The Southwest Airlines pilots union said a trial mandate would “decimate domestic flight demand, jeopardize aviation jobs and have serious unintended consequences.”
US Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow said the high cost and low availability of testing made a domestic testing mandate a challenging concept to implement.
“Based on the January 2021 data, a test requirement for domestic flights would require a nationwide increase in daily testing capacity of 42 percent – a significant investment of testing resources if air travel has already been shown to be safer than many other routine activities,” Dow said.
“The recent implementation of a mask mandate adds another enforceable level of health and safety protection to the travel process. Scientific studies have shown that air travel can be safe as long as everyone carefully follows best health practices: wear a mask, practice physical distancing whenever possible, wash your hands frequently, and stay home when you are sick. We also encourage Americans to get the COVID vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them. These are the messages that the travel industry has been highlighting as part of our firm commitment to a layered approach to healthy and safe travel, and we will continue to do so. “
The American Society of Travel Advisors sent a letter to Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control, urging the agency to “provide guidance to the traveling public without delay. The CDC’s numerous assignments to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) have created confusion, uncertainty and unpredictability, a chilling effect on future bookings and countless other challenges for our travel agent members. “
Jenny Cagle, owner of Elm Grove Travel in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, also said she believed no mandate was required.
“I am confident that this government has heard the travel industry’s very well articulated concerns and will choose to manage the pandemic without a domestic travel mandate.”
