Delta CEO slams Biden’s proposal to require Covid testing for domestic travelers

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Bastain told CNN’s Poppy Harlow on Tuesday that the proposal discussed by the Biden administration would drain testing resources from those who need them most. He said the number of confirmed cases of Covid transmitted on air travel since the start of the pandemic has been “absolutely minimal”.

“This will not guarantee the safety of national leaflets,” he said. Airplanes are fitted with hospital grade air filters and exchange fresh air in the cabin every few minutes, reducing the risk of transmission.

“In reality [there are] very, very few documented cases in the world, not just nationally, “Bastain said of air travel-related infections. people.”

Covid tests are needed for some international travelers in an effort to prevent new variants of the virus from spreading faster in the United States. Testing is also required before boarding flights to Hawaii, but not for most domestic flights.

Bastain said adding this requirement would be a “logistical nightmare” that would be a blow to the already struggling airline and hospitality industries.

“It would put us back another year in the recovery,” he predicted.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN there was no decision yet to require testing, but it was one of the options being considered by the Centers for Disease Control.

“There has to be some common sense medicine and science that really drives this,” he said.

Delta said on Monday that it would continue not to reserve passengers in the middle seats of its planes until at least April. It is the only US airline that continues to limit its capacity.

“It’s expensive. No doubt about it,” Bastain said. But the cost of keeping the middle seat open is partly offset by higher fares Delta was able to charge, he added.

The amount that Delta passengers paid on average for each mile flown in the last three months of the year was only 3% lower from the pre-pandemic period a year earlier. It’s significantly better than that of the other three major US airlines – American (AAL), United (UAL) and South West (LUV) – who are fighting against cuts of 15% to 19%.

“People put their health, safety and comfort first, as they should be, when traveling,” said Bastain. “And we get a significant bonus for traveling on Delta.”

United States considers Covid-19 testing requirement for domestic air travel

Delta began offering vaccines to its employees at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta this week, prioritizing employees 65 years of age or older. The company also offers vaccines to employees of other airlines.

Some have suggested that vaccines should be required of all airline employees who interact with the public. But Bastain said it was too early to discuss such a requirement.

“First of all, most of our employees can’t even get the vaccines. We don’t have the supplies yet, ”he said. “We will be strongly encouraging vaccinations. I know our people understand how important it is to restore confidence in travel and getting the vaccine is one of those steps we will take. I think it’s a decision. to be taken later as we go through the flow of immunization efforts. “

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