WASHINGTON: The chief executives of major US airways, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, met virtually with the White House’s COVID-19 response coordinator on Friday (Feb 12) amid airline concerns that new restrictions could be imposed on domestic air travel.
“We had a very positive, constructive conversation focused on our shared commitment to science-based policies as we work together to end the pandemic, restore air travel, and lead our nation towards restoration,” Nick Calio, chief executive of the Airlines for America industry group, mentioned in a statement.
The White House, which declined to comment on the airline meeting, has a separate interagency meeting scheduled for later on Friday to discuss coronavirus issues and is not expected to endorse requiring negative COVID-19 checks before flights at this point, mentioned people briefed on the matter, who spoke on situation of anonymity.
The airline CEO meeting with coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients and other administration officials involved in COVID-19 issues came after airlines, aviation unions and other industry teams strongly objected to the possibility of requiring COVID-19 testing before boarding domestic flights.
Reuters reported on Thursday that it did not seem the administration would move forward with requiring domestic testing at this point, but stressed officers could revisit the thought if conditions changed.
One idea that has been under serious consideration within the Biden administration is for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue recommendations advising against journey to specific areas of the United States with high COVID-19 caseloads, but the travel recommendations would not be binding, officials mentioned.
The CDC mentioned the last month mentioned the Biden administration was actively expanding mandatory COVID-19 testing to US domestic flights. The CDC on Jan. 26 started requiring negative COVID-19 tests or proof of recovery from the disease from nearly all US-bound international passengers age 2 and older.
