29.Jan.2021
Southwest Airlines' top two executives had choice words Thursday about mandatory COVID-19 testing on flights within the U.S., a policy the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week said is under consideration.
And they weren't alone.
The president of JetBlue Airways bluntly said the airline doesn't support the measure. The CEO of American Airlines took a more diplomatic stance but said testing all passengers would be difficult and "would have us testing Americans on airplanes that we all know are safe to be on.''
The airline officials, asked about the CDC proposal by Wall Street analysts and reporters on their earnings conference calls Thursday, said they didn't have much, if any, information on what's on the table.
COVID testing requirement went into effect for all passengers boarding international flights to the U.S. Travelers will be denied boarding unless they provide a negative test result taken no more than three days prior to their flight or show proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past three months.