Several airlines said on Friday they would begin requesting personal passenger information about flights to the US to strengthen their contact tracking capabilities.
Airlines for America, an industry trade group representing U.S. airlines, said Friday that Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines will collect the information and pass it on to Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The information obtained will include the legal name of each passenger, two telephone numbers, an e-mail address and the address where the passenger will be accommodated in the USA.
Delta Airlines and United Airlines have been collecting this information since December.
“Implementing a contact program for international passengers is yet another step in our multi-layered approach to mitigating risk and ensuring the traveling public that both US and federal governments prioritize the health and safety of passengers and crew.” , said the President of the airline for America Nicholas Calio.
US airlines have long resisted government requests to collect information from their flyers, arguing that this would impose heavy burdens on companies that should upgrade their IT systems and train employees to collect information.
However, Calio said airlines will partially provide the information to try to pressure lawmakers to lift travel restrictions that have been put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
“We hope that this measure, together with the existing testing requirements for passengers flying to the US, will lead policy makers to lift travel restrictions so that international travel can be resumed and the social and economic benefits of this trip can be realized “, said Calio.