The Joe Biden administration is mulling over the possibility of making Covid-19 testing mandatory for all domestic flights in the United States. As per the current regulations, passengers are mandated to have a negative Covid-19 test, but these restrictions are only for international flights.
Mandatory Covid-19 Testing for Domestic Flights?
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg floated the idea about the fact that the administration is indeed considering that as an option to make travel safer for people within the United States. However, he didn’t totally commit to either supporting or opposing the idea. He simply stated that he’s having that conversation with the CDC. Moreover, he also emphasized that any final decision will be guided by science and data.
Airlines have already responded negatively to the possibility of such a mandate. Firstly, Airlines face several logistical challenges in rolling out these tests. Secondly, airlines are unsure how about how they’ll procure the necessary funding and testing resources in order to roll these tests out right away.
The Pundit’s Mantra
The administration may be considering this move, but its already facing pushback from the airline industry. Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian slammed the idea. He called the move a logistical nightmare during an interview with CNN.
“It will not keep domestic flyers safer,” he said. Planes have hospital quality air filters on board and exchange fresh air into the cabin every few minutes, reducing the chance of transmission. “In fact [there are] very, very few documented cases globally, not just domestically,” Bastian said of air-travel related infections. He added that the domestic testing requirement would take “about 10%” of the resources the country needs “to test sick people away from those people.”
If you need to take a Covid-19 test before your next domestic flight, will it change your travel plans? Tell us in the comments section.
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This will kill a lot of travel and I imagine at least some airlines will go out of business or at least have to file for bankruptcy
It was difficult to get a rapid test for someone who travelled recently but wasn’t showing any symptoms. I’d support this if they ensured that rapid testing was readily accessible at every airport, but you know that won’t be the case.
Every one will just keep getting the $2 “tests” that come instantly on the web. No one is going to bother with this crap.