Airline groups urge US CDC to reconsider Ebola declaration requirements

Major US airlines have urged the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reconsider new rules requiring all US-bound travelers to attest they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in the prior 21 days. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airlines for America (A4A) made the request in separate letters reviewed by Reuters.

The new CDC rule, which takes effect on November 3, aims to prevent entry by people exposed to Ebola. IATA, representing over 370 member airlines in more than 130 countries, stated the plan is unreasonable as airlines must modify their procedures to collect attestations from passengers and crew in less than two weeks. A4A, representing United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, added the changes could not be made in time due to check-in system upgrades, digital signatures, station procedures, and training.

IATA also questioned why the plan only applies to air travelers and not other modes of transportation. The CDC initially adopted rules in May barring foreign airline passengers who had been in the DR Congo in the prior three weeks, extending the restrictions to US citizens in July.