Major U.S. and international airline groups are vehemently opposing a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirement mandating that all passengers on international flights to the United States confirm they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within the preceding 21 days, a rule set to impact millions and which airlines argue is too broad and implemented with insufficient time for preparation. The directive, effective November 3rd, requires airlines to collect a paper or digital statement from every traveler, including U.S. citizens, green card holders, and crew members, even if they have never visited the DRC, and retain these records for 42 days post-arrival. Airlines for America (A4A), representing carriers like American, Delta, and United, has formally requested the CDC reconsider the requirement, urging a more targeted approach focused on individuals with recent travel history to affected areas and a delay in the implementation date, citing the impossibility of adequately updating check-in systems, digital signatures, and training protocols within the given timeframe. Similarly, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed that the U.S. government’s demand for airlines to overhaul procedures for attestation collection in less than two weeks is unreasonable. Both groups are also seeking exemptions for airline crews and U.S. military passenger charters, arguing that existing documentation and tracking systems already address health and travel information for these personnel. The CDC maintains the rule is crucial to mitigate the risk of Ebola entering the U.S. via air travel, with the 21-day period reflecting the incubation period of the virus, and warns that travelers providing false information could face prosecution, while infectious disease experts emphasize the critical need for such measures given Ebola’s high fatality rate and the interconnectedness of global travel.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
