Democrats call on CDC and FAA to impose vaccine requirement on domestic air travel



Democratic lawmakers on Monday called on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Federal Aviation Administration to implement new requirements for air travelers to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results in order to fly domestically in the United States.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and House Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), wrote a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson urging them to act quickly as Americans prepare to travel for the holidays and the Omicron variant poses a "major public health threat."

"We urge you to implement new requirements for airline passengers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result to board a domestic flight," the Democrats wrote.

Air travel has essentially returned to pre-pandemic levels but COVID-19, particularly the omicron variant, continues to pose a major public health threat. We\u2019re urging the CDC and FAA to start requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test for all domestic flights.pic.twitter.com/nZIg6P6BbE
— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@Senator Dianne Feinstein) 1640027844

They said that the additional coronavirus restrictions would "improve public health and address concerns that passengers have about flying."

"International travelers arriving in the United States must already submit COVID-19-related documentation to airlines before boarding their flight, and airlines are demonstrating they have the capacity to implement these vaccine and testing requirements. For example, Delta Airlines and American Airlines have adopted their FlyReady and VeriFLY verification systems, and United Airlines has introduced similar requirements. CDC has also already published guidance on what types of COVID-10 tests and proof of COVID-19 vaccination are acceptable for this process," the lawmakers wrote.

Earlier this month, the Biden administration tightened restrictions on international travelers, requiring that anyone outside of the U.S. seeking to fly here show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test taken the day before they board a plane to the U.S. The restrictions were adopted as a preemptive measure taken to reduce transmission of the Omicron variant.

Other countries are enacting strict travel restrictions in response to fear of Omicron, which evidence suggests transmits between people rapidly.

Germany on Saturday announced that it will soon classify the United Kingdom as an "area of variant of concern" because of Omicron's spread. The designation is the highest risk category defined by German officials and would ban travel from the U.K. for all but German citizens, who must quarantine for two weeks if they return home. France issued a similar travel ban a week before, and more European countries are expected to follow suit.

Israel's health ministry on Sunday added several European countries to its COVID-19 "red list" and recommended banning Israeli residents from traveling to the United States. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has promised to continue imposing travel restrictions to avoid further lockdowns as the nation deals with its fifth wave of COVID-19.

Thanksgiving travel projected to approach pre-pandemic normal



Thanksgiving holiday travel is beginning to look a lot like a return to the pre-pandemic normal, according to industry analysts.

The American Automobile Association predicts that 53.4 million people will travel to celebrate Thanksgiving over the holiday weekend compared to 47.1 million in 2020, the largest single-year increase since 2005.

The AAA said the anticipated surge in travel follows the easing of COVID-19 restrictions over the last year, as well as a higher number of Americans getting vaccinated and feeling more comfortable traveling to visit family.

"This Thanksgiving, travel will look a lot different than last year," said Paula Twidale, senior vice president for AAA Travel. "Now that the borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holiday."

AAA Travel expects that 48.3 million will drive, 4.2 million will fly, and 1 million will use other means of transportation like busses, trains, or cruises over the weekend. In 2019, the last holiday before the pandemic, 47.1 million people traveled for Thanksgiving.

"International travel re-opening will allow people to reconnect with friends and family and explore new places, while also giving a much-needed boost to the economy," Twidale explained. "But it also means airports will be busier than we've seen, so travelers must plan for long lines and extra time for TSA checks."

According to data from the Transportation Security Administration reported by The Guardian, 1,382,230 people went through TSA checkpoints on November 25, a large increase from the 560,902 individuals who traveled in 2020. The TSA recorded 1,591,158 people at checkpoints on Nov. 25 in 2019.

On Nov. 23, the day before Thanksgiving and typically the busiest travel day of the year, 2,207,949 people moved through TSA checkpoints this year compared to the 912,090 that did in 2020.

Public health officials like White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci have encouraged anyone gathering in groups for the holidays to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to celebrate a "normal" holiday.

However, a Hill-HarrisX poll released this week found that 65% of Thanksgiving hosts had no plans to require their visitors to be vaccinated or wear masks.

Only 21% of respondents said they would demand that their guests be vaccinated, and only 4% said they would require masks at their gatherings. 11 said they would require both.

Last year, several health experts predicted that holiday season gatherings could lead to a surge in COVID-19 cases and some made the same warning for this year.

A study published by the American Council on Science and Health in March 2021 analyzed data from the 2020 holiday season and found modest increases in COVID-19 infections in the three weeks before, between, and after Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. "Nevertheless, holiday gatherings do not appear to exert significant long-term increases in COVID-19 infections or fatalities," the study concluded.