The aviation industry is pushing the U.S. to normalize health papers

Leading companies and industry groups are urging Biden administration to develop temporary credentials that would allow passengers to show they have been tested and vaccinated for COVID-19, a move the airline industry believes will help travel recovery.

Various organizations and countries are working on developing so-called vaccine permits that aim to allow more travel. But airlines fear that breaches of regional credentials will cause confusion and none will be accepted.

“Establishing uniform management is critical” and “the U.S. must lead this development,” more than two dozen organizations said in a letter Monday to White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients. However, the groups said getting the vaccine should not be necessary for domestic or international travel.

The groups include major U.S. and international aviation trade groups, airline trade unions and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The White House did not immediately comment.

The World Health Organization and the United Nations aviation arm are working on the kind of information that will be included in a certificate. Airline industry groups are particularly interested in giving the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a prime role, believing this would provide greater certainty that information in the credentials is valid.

The CDC issued new guidelines on Monday for people who are fully vaccinated, saying they can – without face masks – meet other vaccinated people and visit unvaccinated people in one low-risk home for severe disease. However, the health agency still recommends not traveling.

“Every time there is an increase in travel, we have an increase in the situation in this country,” said CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky.

Walensky noted that many variants of COVID-19 have now begun to spread in the U.S. in other countries. However, she argued that, with more data, CDC could allow people with vaccines to travel.

The pandemic has been particularly severe on airlines. Despite a partial recovery, U.S. airlines are still losing $ 150 million per day, according to trade group Airlines for America.

In the U.S., the number of people passing through airports is still down nearly 60% so far this year compared to 2019, the last normal year, overcrowded. Most of these people fly within the United States.

Airlines are counting on broad vaccines to encourage travel, and for vaccine passports to boost highly profitable international flights.

———

Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.