• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » News » Airline Executives Beg White House To Reject Domestic Testing
News

Airline Executives Beg White House To Reject Domestic Testing

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 13, 2021November 14, 2023 8 Comments

a white house with columns and a fountain in front with White House in the background

U.S. airline executives had a unified message for the White House during a virtual summit on Friday: no domestic testing.

U.S. Airline Executives Oppose Domestic Testing At White House Meeting

Airline executives from across the industry joined a virtual call with White House coronavirus-response coordinator Jeff Zients. All expressed a common message: requiring testing for domestic flights would destroy an industry already severely weakened by the pandemic. The additional cost and inconvenience of testing, they argued, would deter people from domestic travel.

Furthermore, the airlines argued there is not a sufficient infrastructure in place to even accommodate the scale of testing needed should pre-flight testing become mandatory. Plus, requiring pre-flight testing would just push more people to drive, not minimizing risk but transferring it and creating even greater risk on roads and highways.

White House Press Secretary refused to rule out domestic testing, but noted during her daily press briefing:

“Reports that there is an intention to put in place new requirements such as testing are not accurate.”

Two people were noticeably missing from the meeting. First, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who sparked fear amongst the U.S. airline industry when he hinted at a domestic testing requirement. Second, Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who seems to have better things to do than speak to the White House no matter what party is in power.

A spokesperson for Airlines for America, the trade group which lobbies on behalf of U.S. airlines, stated:

“We had a very positive, constructive conversation focused on our shared commitment to science-based policies as we work together to end the pandemic, restore air travel and lead our nation toward recovery.”

CONCLUSION

The union repressing Southwest Airlines pilots warns that testing “would decimate domestic air travel demand, put aviation jobs at risk, and create serious unintended consequences.” All true, though I think we could adjust if this really was helpful. However, I do concur with the airlines that this would simply transfer travel from air to car. The result may be less COVID-19 spread, but more traffic deaths.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article U.S. Files Complaint Against Israel For Unequal Airline Treatment
Next Article Delta CEO Skips Another White House Meeting

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United Airlines Mango Lassi

    United Airlines Rolls Out Aperol Spritz, Mango Lassi, And New Hawaii Menus

    July 4, 2025
  • United Airlines pre-arrival snack

    United Airlines Adds Pre-Arrival Service On Transcontinental Flights

    July 2, 2025
  • American Airlines Airport Standby

    American Airlines Reinstates Airport Standby For All Passengers

    July 1, 2025

8 Comments

  1. derek Reply
    February 13, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    Testing would make sense if there were also random testing of people not traveling, like in the supermarket, or if one state were locking up and state residents returning.

  2. Kelly Loeffler Reply
    February 13, 2021 at 1:46 pm

    The whole thing is silly, either cooties exists or it doesn’t. If you’re living in reality, you have to choose one or the other

  3. Tom Reply
    February 13, 2021 at 1:53 pm

    Notice how the airlines helped fund the studies showing that flying is completely safe? Wonder how they got the money to fund those studies? Oh yeah. The taxpayer. Hmmm. I’d say these people aren’t worth the shoes they’re standing in.

    • JoEllen Reply
      February 14, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      I agree…… let them use the $billions they just got for the 2nd time and will no doubt get for a 3rd time to turn airports into clinics and testing grounds. Of course they’ll have to advise passengers to get to airports well in advance to account for any who have positive results to be rebooked. And why stop there?…. provide airport hotel rooms to wait out resulting quarantines and a new rebooking date.

  4. E Reply
    February 13, 2021 at 11:24 pm

    Did you purposely call it the union ‘repressing’ Southwest pilots in the last paragraph? Is your subconscious trying to tell us something 😉

  5. JGRL Reply
    February 14, 2021 at 12:16 pm

    For the love of God, this is/would be insanity! Enough already!!

  6. TWA John Reply
    February 14, 2021 at 12:31 pm

    Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, What kind of a twilight zone are we living in?

    • UA-NYC Reply
      February 14, 2021 at 7:22 pm

      “Failed reality show host, bankrupt businessman, serial sexual assaulter, insurrection inciter President” is the true Twilight Zone

Leave a Reply to TWA John Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for July

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Sting Chicago
    United Employee Caught in Predator Sting At O’Hare Airport July 5, 2025
  • rows of seats with monitors on them
    Review: Virgin Atlantic A350-1000 Economy Class July 5, 2025
  • Smoked Salmon SAS
    Yum: Birch-Smoked Norwegian Salmon On SAS July 5, 2025
  • Air France-KLM majority owner SAS
    Air France-KLM Set To Become Majority Owner Of SAS July 4, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • a blue passport on a black surface
    All The Patriotic Quotes In Your U.S. Passport July 4, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List June 6, 2025

Archives

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.