President Joe Biden has instructed federal agencies to mandate that international travelers quarantine upon arrival in the U.S., a decision that airline industry groups are opposing.
On Friday, groups representing the U.S. travel industry and airlines expressed their opposition to mandatory quarantines for air passengers arriving from abroad, following President Joe Biden’s signing of an executive order to enforce such measures.
On Thursday, Biden directed federal agencies to require international air travelers to quarantine upon their arrival in the U.S. Additionally, his administration is implementing a rule requiring all U.S.-bound passengers aged two and older to present negative COVID-19 test results taken within three days before travel. This requirement will take effect on Tuesday.
The U.S. Travel Association, an industry group representing businesses such as hotels and airlines, stated that the mandatory negative test requirement makes quarantining returning passengers unnecessary, calling it a measure that “could be extremely difficult to enforce.”
The group encompasses a variety of travel-related businesses, including hotels, car rental agencies, tourism operators, and entertainment companies.
During a briefing on Friday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki did not elaborate on the potential actions the administration might take to enforce the quarantine requirements.
Airlines for America, a group representing major U.S. airlines, expressed its hope that the White House will acknowledge that “testing can facilitate the safe resumption of travel without the need for quarantines, which are challenging to enforce and often prove ineffective
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises a seven-day quarantine for air travelers arriving in the U.S. after undergoing testing.
Additionally, President Biden has instructed federal agencies to enforce a mask mandate for passengers on interstate transportation, including trains, buses, and flights. He has also directed agencies to recommend implementing “additional public health measures for domestic travel,” which could entail requiring a negative COVID-19 test before flying domestically.
Roger Dow, Chief Executive of the U.S. Travel Association, stated that the group does not believe making testing mandatory for domestic travel is “feasible or viable.”
The Biden administration has announced plans to reinstate entry bans for most non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in Brazil and much of Europe, following a previous order by former President Donald Trump that lifted these restrictions.