Delta Air Lines CEO exploded Biden’s government on Tuesday for considering a proposal to require a negative coronavirus test for all domestic travelers, calling it a ‘horrible idea’ that would not keep passengers safe and hamper an already struggling industry.
“It will not keep domestic kites safer,” CEO Ed Bastian told CNN Business, claiming that aircraft have high-quality air filters that constantly refresh the air every few minutes to reduce the chance of transmitting the virus. .
Travel within the air transport system is the safest form of transport. I think we all know that. Incidents of distribution on board one of our aircraft are absolutely minimal. In fact, very, very little documented business worldwide, not just in the interior, ”he said.
Bastian further said that an operation to require vaccinations would take much-needed resources away from testing for sick people.
“I think it would be a logistical nightmare and the transport, and not just the transport and travel industry, but the whole hospitality sector, the hotels, would at least probably have another year in recovery in return,” he said. said. said.
“I think it would be a horrible idea for many reasons,” Bastian said. “We have, on average, more than a million people a day in the U.S. industry per day and the number is starting to grow again, which we would like to see.”
He said the required people would be discouraged from traveling again and would have long-term consequences.
‘If it’s something, it’s going to keep people away from what they have to do, who … are starting to come back … for not just essential travel. But people need to start reclaiming their lives. “Taking test resources away from those in real need I think would be a terrible decision,” he said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires negative COVID-19 tests for international travelers coming to the US but has not yet expanded domestically.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, was asked about the comments of Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg that the government is considering requiring domestic tests as with international travel.
“First of all, I really want to encourage people not to travel, but if we’re traveling, it’s another mitigating measure to try to reduce the spread,” she said during the coronavirus briefing, but did not elaborate. not given.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, approximately 1.8 billion passengers took flights in 2020, compared to 4.5 billion in 2019, which represents a loss of $ 370 billion for the airline industry.