Aerolíneas Argentinas, the flag carrier of Argentina, has vowed not only to ban passengers who flout COVID-19 measures, but turn them over to authorities to face criminal charges.
Aerolíneas Argentinas Warns Passengers Who Flout COVID-19 Measures
Argentina has faced an extended lockdown as it battled the pandemic. Only recently did domestic flights resume. In some cases, travel between provinces in Argentina requires negative COVID-19 tests. In other cases, a test is required upon landing. But in all cases, as is true everywhere, common sense is assumed and travelers who are COVID-19 positive should know better than to try to travel.
Well, two passengers in Argentina were “caught” traveling even though they tested positive for COVID-19. If two were caught, you can bet there were likely more (and this issue is hardly unique to Argentina).
Hace menos de una semana retomamos la operación regular de @Aerolineas_AR y, aunque parezca difícil de creer, hemos tenido dos casos de pasajeros que se presentaron para volar con certificado de Covid-19 POSITIVO. Ante esta situación, queremos informar lo siguiente.
— Pablo Ceriani (@ceriani_pablo) October 27, 2020
Aerolíneas Argentinas is cracking down in a unique way. Of course it will ban problematic passengers and this will be more than a timeout. Instead, violators will receive a five-year ban. But CEO Pablo Ceriani also promised those who faked tests or refused to submit to new tests would be “denunciado penalmente” (which, if my elementary Spanish serves me, means will be referred to authorities for criminal protection).
Todo pasajero que se presente para volar con un certificado COVID-19 positivo o con documentación adulterada para evadir los controles, será denunciado penalmente y no podrá abordar ninguno de los vuelo de @Aerolineas_AR por 5 años.
— Pablo Ceriani (@ceriani_pablo) October 27, 2020
Other news outlets have said Aerolíneas Argentinas will sue passengers directly, but that isn’t clear to me from the Tweets above.
CONCLUSION
This year is full of sad stories, but I found this story particularly sad. Or maybe pathetic is the better word. How pathetic is it that an airline has to tell people not to travel while contagious or not to falsify tests. Sadly, Aerolíneas Argentinas may have simply said what others should say. If you ever think about falsifying a test to take a last minute trip…just don’t do it.
This reminds me of that instragrammer who tried to forge an upgrade document. Crime doesn’t pay! https://www.elliott.org/airline-problems/ask-for-upgrade-kicked-off-your-flight/
This is pure discrimination and bigotry against covid positive people. We don’t test for nor stop people with other medical conditions from flying, this madness needs to stop about being suspicious towards our fellow humans who have one particular virus. West your own mask and let others live
Eh? When is the last time someone caught diabetes on a flight? Or am I missing the “/s” in your post?
Lots of people are forging these tests, and why shouldn’t they?
I’m an honest guy, so I don’t, but I have ZERO concern for anyone who chooses to forge a test.
Heck, I fully support it.
All central governments can go to hell at this point.
Dean in Portugal
“common sense is assumed and travelers who are COVID-19 positive should know better than to try to travel.”
What planet do you live on? Cheating, lying, stealing and just making shit up are naked and on parade every day from the white house to travel blogs. Dishonesty is a bigger epidemic than any Chinese virus. People just don’t think any rules apply to them and they just don’t give a damn about anyone but themselves. This is deeply ingrained in our culture now.
That’s not going to change until and unless everyone cracks down, makes examples of everyone, and puts teeth into policies, rules and regulations. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
“But in all cases, as is true everywhere, common sense is assumed and travelers who are COVID-19 positive should know better than to try to travel.”
We live in a world where people will fake a disability so that they can take their pets onboard as “emotional support animals” just to dodge a $100 fee. Not just fake a disability, but actively try to justify their actions. So this really surprises you? I guarantee this won’t be the last time you see someone attempt to fake a test result, either to hide that they’re actually positive or just so they won’t have to pay for a test.