Airlines urge White House to end COVID international travel testing rules

Vacationers wearing protecting face masks to avert the spread of the coronavirus condition (COVID-19) reclaim their luggage at the airport in Denver, Colorado, U.S., November 24, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt

WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Main airlines, enterprise and journey groups urged the White House on Wednesday to conclude COVID-19 pre-departure tests necessities for vaccinated worldwide passengers touring to the United States.

Airways for The united states, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Air Transportation Affiliation, Aerospace Industries Association, the U.S. Vacation Association and other teams called for modify in a letter to White Residence coronavirus reaction coordinator Jeff Zients.

“Surveys of air travellers indicate that pre-departure tests is a foremost aspect in the selection not to journey internationally. People today only are unwilling to acquire the likelihood that they will be unable to return to the U.S.,” they wrote.

The White Household declined to remark. Airways for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N), United Airways Holdings and other people explained as of past 7 days worldwide air travel was down 38{6932ee47e64f4ce8eedbbd5224581f6531cba18a35225771c06e4f1b3f0d9667} around 2019 stages.

In December, the Biden administration imposed tougher new principles necessitating global air tourists arriving in the United States to get a adverse COVID-19 test within a single working day of travel.

Below prior procedures, vaccinated intercontinental air travelers could existing a damaging examination end result acquired in three days of their working day of departure.

The White Home and Facilities for Condition Handle (CDC) beforehand deemed but have under no circumstances imposed testing specifications for People to board domestic flights.

The letter mentioned that far more than 74.3 million folks have experienced COVID-19 in the United States, this means that at the very least 22{6932ee47e64f4ce8eedbbd5224581f6531cba18a35225771c06e4f1b3f0d9667} of the inhabitants has had the virus.

“Plainly COVID is prevalent throughout the U.S. and tries to handle its importation by means of air travel beneath today’s situations are not likely to transform that actuality,” it reported.

If any new threatening variants appeared “pre-departure screening could be easily reinstituted,” it extra.

The European Union advisable international locations eliminate intra-Europe COVID journey limits, the letter observed. Britain will end COVID predeparture screening for vaccinated air tourists to enter the state setting up Feb. 11.

The teams claimed “travel and aviation’s restoration is dependent on the authorities getting measures to get rid of vacation limits that are no longer justified by current conditions.”

Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates

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