Major U.S. Airlines to Require Health Assessment Prior to Flying

Airlines for America member carriers will require passengers to complete a health declarations before flying, the trade organization announced on Monday.

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines will require passengers to complete a health acknowledgment during the check-in process. This measure is expected to remain in place throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The assessment will ask passengers to provide assurance that they will bring a face mask and wear it at the airport and on the plane, are not currently experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms, and that they have not had close contact with someone who tested positive or had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

"Health assesments prior to air travel are just one more important measure in our multi-layered approach to help mitigate risk and prioritize the wellbeing of passengers and employees," said the group's president and CEO Nicholas E. Clio. "We want passengers to know that they should expect to see this added layer of protection the next time they check in for a flight." 

Passengers who fail or refuse to complete the health acknowledgment may be deemed unfit to travel, though “each carrier will resolve the matter in accordance with its own policies.”

Last month, Airlines for America and its member carriers announced their support of the TSA to conduct temperature screenings of flyers. More recently, the member airlines pledged to strictly enforce passengers wearing masks.