Could there be sunnier skies ahead?
Airlines for America (A4A) commented on the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on practices considered safe for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The trade group representing North America’s major airlines has expressed confidence that the latest update could be a harbinger of a safer and brighter future for air travel in the midst of the global pandemic.
In highly anticipated guidance released on Monday, the CDC said that those who are fully vaccinated can spend time indoors with people who have not been vaccinated, without a mask, if those who have not been inoculated have a low risk of serious COVID-19 .
Airlines for America expressed confidence that the latest CDC update could be a harbinger of a safer and brighter future for air travel.
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To date, 9.2% of the US population is fully vaccinated, while 17.7% have received at least one dose, said the national institute of public health.
In response, a spokesman for A4A – which represents major airlines American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue – said the commercial group will continue to communicate with the CDC as the situation evolves, and described the new orientation as encouraging for the industry in general.
To date, 9.2% of the US population is fully vaccinated, while 17.7% have received at least one dose, said the CDC.
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“Since the beginning of this crisis, US airlines have been relying on science to help guide decisions while they continually re-evaluate and update their processes, procedures and protocols,” said an A4A spokesman in a statement shared with Fox News. on Monday. “We continue to work with CDC and other competent authorities to ensure that travel policies and measures that prioritize the safety and well-being of all passengers and employees are implemented.”
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, they emphasized, A4A member airlines have gone further with the improved health and safety protocol to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout the trip, policies that will continue to apply.
“We remain confident that this layered approach significantly reduces risk and we are encouraged that science continues to confirm that there is a very low risk of virus transmission on aircraft,” concluded the A4A spokesman.
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“U.S. airlines have implemented several layers of measures designed to prevent the transmission of viruses on board the aircraft, including strict facial coverage requirements, improved disinfection protocols and hospital-level ventilation systems,” said the representative. “In addition to implementing multiple layers of measures to mitigate the risk of onboard transmission, A4A member airlines have proactively implemented pre-departure health confirmation forms to encourage passengers to assess their own health before travel.”
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“We remain confident that this layered approach significantly reduces risk and we are encouraged because science continues to confirm that there is a very low risk of virus transmission on board aircraft,” they concluded.
In February, the powerful travel trade group announced its support for a voluntary international contact tracking program for those entering the United States as yet another proactive step towards making high skies a safer place.
Fox News’ Kayla Rivas contributed to this report.