Aircraft operators must verify testing and vaccination status and maintain contact information of their passengers arriving from international destinations beginning November 8 under a revised policy released from the White House yesterday. NBAA welcomed the release of the policy to enable foreign travelers to enter the U.S. again after they have largely been prohibited throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the revised policy that was issued through a presidential proclamation, incoming non-citizen, non-immigrant travelers must be fully vaccinated before boarding an airplane, with limited exemptions.
NATA advises though that the policy also tightens testing requirements. Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens, as well as foreign nationals, must furnish a negative Covid-19 test taken within three days of travel into the country. However, in a change, non-vaccinated individuals now must have taken the Covid test within one day of travel.
The policy provides some exceptions to the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals, including medical and travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons. Those arriving with non-tourist visas from countries with low vaccine availability would be exempt as well. In addition, the vaccine requirements apply to those aged 18 or older.
Further, operators must retain contact information of arriving passengers to enable public health officials to trace travelers who may have been infected or exposed to Covid-19.