Skift Take
Flying is still with associated with virus transmission, and it most likely will not matter who petitions for an end to pre-departure testing requirements for immunized global passengers, the U.S. is not likely to budge for some time.
Matthew Parsons
Major airline companies, company and travel groups urged the White Home on Wednesday to end Covid-19 pre-departure screening requirements for immunized worldwide travelers traveling to the U.S.
Airlines for America, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Air Transportation Association, Aerospace Industries Association, the U.S. Travel Association and other groups called for change in a letter to White Home coronavirus response planner Jeff Zients.
“Surveys of air guests suggest that pre-departure screening is a prominent consider the choice not to travel worldwide. Individuals merely hesitate to take the opportunity that they will be unable to go back to the U.S.,” they composed.
The White Home declined to comment. Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc, United Airlines Holdings and others said since recently international air travel was down 38 percent over 2019 levels.
In December, the Biden administration imposed harder new guidelines needing global air tourists showing up in the U.S. to acquire an unfavorable Covid-19 test within one day of travel.
Under prior rules, vaccinated global air tourists could present an unfavorable test result acquired within three days of their day of departure.
The White Home and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) formerly thought about however have never enforced testing requirements for Americans to board domestic flights.
The letter kept in mind that more than 74.3 million people have had Covid-19 in the U.S., meaning that at least 22 percent of the population has actually had the infection.
“Plainly Covid is prevalent throughout the U.S. and tries to control its importation by means of flight under today’s scenarios are unlikely to alter that reality,” it stated.
If any brand-new threatening versions appeared “pre-departure testing might be quickly reinstituted,” it added.
The European Union suggested nations remove intra-Europe Covid travel restrictions, the letter noted. Britain will end Covid pre-departure screening for vaccinated air tourists to enter the nation beginning Feb. 11.
The groups stated “travel and aviation’s healing depends on the government taking steps to remove travel restrictions that are no longer validated by current situations.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Modifying by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates)
This short article was written by David Shepardson from Reuters and was lawfully licensed through the Industry Dive Content Marketplace. Please direct all licensing questions to [email safeguarded]
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