United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week that COVID-19 testing is essential to restore international travel. While that may be United’s position, many countries seem to be taking a different approach.
United Airlines CEO: “Testing Is Essential In Safely Restoring Global Travel”
On Tuesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing entitled “COVID-19’s Effects on U.S. Aviation and the Flight Path to Recovery.” While several industry leaders testified before Congress, United CEO Scott Kirby sent a letter outlining United’s pandemic response.
The letter was extensive and primarily recounted the measures United has taken like its CleanPlus initiative, waiving change fees, and vaccine delivery. Kirby also thanked members of the committee for its extension of CARES Act funding.
But what caught my attention was Kirby’s emphasis on testing.
“We believe accurate and reliable testing is essential in safely restoring global travel and promoting our recovery. We believe pre-departure testing is an important tool that can open access to global markets in lieu of existing quarantines and travel restrictions.
That is why United is leading numerous pilot programs and investing in testing and digital data health management solutions. United launched the world’s first free transatlantic COVID-19 testing pilot for customers; was the first U.S. airline to launch a COVID-19 testing program for customers traveling on United from San Francisco International Airport to Hawaii; and introduced customer COVID-19 testing from Houston to Latin American and Caribbean destinations.”
While United Airlines joined others in condemning testing requirements for domestic travel, it has settled on a position that testing should re-open borders.
How Will Countries Respond?
Despite President Joe Biden’s promise that all Americans would be offered a vaccination by May, the focus on testing instead of vaccine suggests a hope…and I’d call it nothing less than a hope…that testing alone can re-open borders.
While we already see some countries open with proof of a negative COVID-19 test, proof of vaccination plus testing will likely be the new norm; and the vaccination is still so young that we do not know how long its protection lasts.
United is hardly unreasonable to push testing as a means to open borders, but I don’t see it as an alternative to closed borders or even quarantines in the near future.
CONCLUSION
Kirby believes testing is key to re-opening borders. As much as I wish that were to be the case, the imperfect testing technology and reliance upon a layered approach likely renders this idea a pipe dream.
Any thoughts on how tests will work for those who had Covid and recovered? My understanding is that you can test positive for many months after having the virus? Will you be denied travel if that is the case?
Are you asking for a friend?
@Santastico: I tested negative less than two weeks after testing positive. I don’t think many are positive for months.
(@All: the reply feature isn’t working in the comments section – we are working to restore it)
@Matthew: I tested positive couple weeks ago, was on quarantine for 10 days and other than losing my smell for 2 days I had absolutely no symptoms. However, I asked my doctor about getting tested afterwards and he emphasized that I should not get tested because I would test positive and cause confusion since my county would count me as a positive case. He said there are people that for months after testing positive for the first time will still test positive although they are no longer contagious. He said that showing a positive test a while back should be enough to show that I already had Covid but of course that will be up to interpretation of the person making the decision if you can or cannot travel.
@Joe Chivas: I guess your comment was directed to me. No, I am asking for myself. I had no reason to hide I had Covid and had absolutely no issues at all other than having to stay home for 10 days which was nothing compared to the issues most people have with Covid.
Vaccinated and not going to get tested. Vaccines protect you from the virus 95%. Testing makes the government feel good 100%.
@Santastico or anyone. Are they really counting multiple positive tests from a single individual as a new positive for each test?
If so that is a huge deal and highly irresponsible. It would corrupt important real time data being used to make decisions that affect the lives of millions.
It’s fair to say an individual testing positive once might get tested 2 or 3 more times before returning to their normal routine out of an abundance of caution.
Absolute nonsense. Enough with all this insanity.
@Rya : I don’t think they are. My doctor said to avoid confusion. I tested two after my quarantine and it showed positive. He called me and asked why I was testing again and told me to not waste my time since it will show positive for a while.
@ryan – where have you been for the last year? of course that’s the way they are counting it.