SEATAC, Wash. – As more Americans return to air travel, new legislation proposed in the U.S. Senate would require all domestic travelers to show proof that they have received a COVID vaccination shot or a negative test prior to boarding their flight.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif, has introduced the U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act, saying the measure aims to prevent another winter surge while protecting airline staff and other passengers who aren’t able to get vaccinated yet.
“It only makes sense that we also ensure the millions of airline passengers that crisscross our country aren’t contributing to further transmission," Feinstein said in a written statement. "Especially as young children remain ineligible to be vaccinated.”
The senator's bill would also allow someone who recovered from COVID-19 in the past to show acceptable proof of their recovery based on existing guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
KOMO News reached out for comment from Washington state lawmakers about the proposed legislation but there were no immediate responses.
The Pulse of Seattle poll by KOMO News and Strategies 360, a political consulting firm, found that 84 percent of participants said they would favor a vaccine requirement for airline travel while 15 percent said they would not. Just 1 percent answered they don’t know.
For travelers passing through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday, there was mixed reaction to the proposal.
“I think it’s a great idea actually,” said passenger Glenn Moran. “It’s easy enough to get a COVID test these days. Having a negative result within a reasonable time frame for a flight I think is easy enough.”
The bill doesn’t specify how soon an airline passenger's negative results would be need before they could fly.
“Since the pandemic started, I was sort of cocooned and staying home all the time because I have a low immune system,” said Kum Henry, who flew to Washington state from Arizona. “The pandemic right now is not an individual problem. It’s everyone’s problem.”
Henry also expressed the need to support each other and that getting vaccinated is the best way to do just that. And in the U.S., she says there’s no excuse not to get the shot.
“You can get vaccinated any place you want,” Henry said. “I hope people realize how good they have it here.”
Other SeaTac airport passengers said they weren't on board with the proposal.
“I’ve had COVID (and) I feel like I have the antibodies running through my body already," said Jason Tomaino. "I trust my immune system. Whether or not I choose to get a vaccine I think should be up to me and not the government telling me.”
Traveler Jean Abide told KOMO News that he occasionally receives last-minute travel orders.
He said he doesn’t mind the testing aspect but has yet to be vaccinated and worries it could create some issues.
“For a short notice travel, it’s not going to work because I may receive a phone call in the night and fly tomorrow,” said Jean Abide. “It’s not going to be possible.”
According to the Transportation Security Administration, more than 1.4 million passengers passed through security checkpoints across the country on Sept. 29, 2021.
On the same day in 2020, slightly more than 630,000 passengers went through airport security points.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
- KOMO News/Strategies 360 poll findings: Click here
- Full results: Click here