More airlines said Friday they will begin asking for passengers’ personal flight information to the U.S. to enable their contact tracing.
Airlines for America, an industry trading group representing leading U.S. airlines, said Friday that Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines will collect the information and pass it on to the Centers for Disease. Control and Prevention (CDC). The information obtained contains the legal name of each passenger, two telephone numbers, an email address and the address where the passenger will reside in the USA.
Delta Airlines and United Airlines have been collecting this information since December.
“The implementation of a contact tracing program for international passengers is another measure in our multiple approach to reducing risk and reassuring the traveling public that US airlines and the federal government prioritize the health and safety of passengers and crew,” he said. said. Airline for America’s President Nicholas Calio.
US airlines have long resisted the government’s requests to collect information on their leaflets, claiming that it will have a major impact on large companies that need to upgrade computer systems and train employees to collect the information.
However, Calio said the airlines will provide some of the information to try to push lawmakers to lift travel restrictions that have been put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
“We are hopeful that this measure, together with the existing testing requirements for passengers flying to the US, will result in policymakers lifting travel restrictions so that international travel can resume and realize the social and economic benefits of travel,” Calio said. .