Bipartisan Bill Moves to House to Protect Flying Public During COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

The bipartisan Ensuring Health Safety in the Skies Act passed the United States Senate with unanimous consent, instructing the Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security to establish a joint task force on air travel during and after the coronavirus pandemic. This task force will be advised by aviation, security, and public health experts to develop recommended requirements, plans, and guidelines to address health, safety, security, and logistical challenges for air travel. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) stated that the task force is crucial in addressing the immediate challenges to safety in the skies, as well as planning for a "new normal" after the pandemic subsides.

Key Takeaways:

  • The bipartisan Ensuring Health Safety in the Skies Act instructs the Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security to establish a joint task force on air travel during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The task force will be advised by aviation, security, and public health experts to develop recommended requirements, plans, and guidelines to address health, safety, security, and logistical challenges for air travel.
  • Senators Markey and Blumenthal introduced the original version of the legislation, which was later revised and approved by the Senate Commerce Committee on a bipartisan, unanimous basis.
  • The task force will address immediate health and safety issues for passengers and workers during the pandemic, such as requiring all passengers and frontline workers in aviation to wear masks.
  • The bill has broad support from various aviation industry stakeholders, including the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Air Line Pilots Association, International, and the Airports Council International -- North America.
  • The task force will help create consistent standards across U.S. airports, ultimately protecting the health and safety of passengers and airport employees.

Statistics:

  • The prevalence of COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on the aviation industry.
  • The bill instructs the Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security to establish a joint task force on air travel during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The task force will comprise experts from aviation, security, and public health to develop recommended requirements, plans, and guidelines to address health, safety, security, and logistical challenges for air travel.
  • The task force will address immediate health and safety issues for passengers and workers during the pandemic, such as requiring all passengers and frontline workers in aviation to wear masks.
  • The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA represents nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants at 19 airlines.

Sources:

  • Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
  • Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
  • Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
  • Lisa Wieland, CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority
  • Captain Joe DePete, President of the Air Line Pilots Association, International
  • Julie Hedrick, National President of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants
  • Kevin M. Burke, President and CEO of Airports Council International -- North America
  • Bret Oestreich, National Director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA)