Travel industry, airlines urge end to COVID testing to enter U.S.

Passengers lined up for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing at the Tom Bradley International Terminal pop-up clinic at Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA on December 22, 2021. REUTERS / Bing Guan

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - Major US airlines, business and travel groups and other airlines on Thursday urged the White House to allow international travelers traveling to the US to waive conditions before departure for COVID. -19.

"In the wake of the slow economic recovery in the business and international travel sectors and the progress made in improving medical and public health measures in the United States, we recommend that air vaccination tests be removed immediately for vaccinated air travelers." said the signed letter. American Airlines (AAL.O) , Carnival Corp (CCL.N) , Marriott International (MAR.O) , Disney Parks Walt Disney Co. ( DIS.N), US Chamber of Commerce, US Travel Association and others.

Airline executives say many Americans don't travel overseas for fear of being positive and staying overseas.

A letter to White House physician response coordinator Ashish Jha said "the economic costs associated with maintaining the measure are significant" as international travel costs fell 78 percent from 2019 levels.

The letter states that many foreign governments “have similar rates of infection, vaccination and hospitalization

The UK, Germany and Canada have removed the requirement to test vaccinated passengers before departure.

The letter states that the Biden administration does not require a negative test to enter ports of entry into Canada and Mexico, only for air passengers.

The White House did not immediately comment.

On April 18, a federal judge ruled that the 14-month order for transportation masks was illegal, and the Biden administration allowed it to quickly enforce rules for airplanes and transportation hubs, such as airports.

In December, the Biden administration imposed new and stricter rules on international air passengers arriving in the United States within a day of a negative trip with COVID-19.

Under the previous rule, vaccinated international passengers can submit a negative test within three days of vaccination.

Report by David Shepardson, edited by Franklin Paul and Marguerita Choy

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