Fri, May 01, 2009
Responds To Biden’s Remarks Made On the NBC Today
Show
The Air Transport Association of America has written a response
to Vice President Biden regarding his remarks made this morning on
the NBC “Today” show. “Vice President
Biden’s comment that people should avoid air travel in
response to the H1N1 flu outbreak was extremely
disappointing,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May.
“The airlines have been working daily with government
agencies, none of whom suggest people avoid air travel, unless they
are not feeling well. The fact is that the air onboard a commercial
aircraft is cleaner than that in most public buildings.”
ATA efforts on this subject have been fairly proactive... and
recent statements have attempted to bring clarity to the hysterity
that has been communicated all-too-often via a number of media
outlets. “The safety and security of employees and passengers
is our number-one priority, airlines have a long history of
monitoring and preparing for communicable diseases like swine
flu,” said ATA President/CEO James May. “Travelers
should and airline employees are taking the situation seriously,
but no one should panic. Everyone should use the common-sense
measures provided by CDC. Airlines continue to follow CDC
recommendations for their employee procedures, which include
monitoring and reporting any case of communicable disease onboard
aircraft.”
May added that, “While the CDC issued a ‘travel
health warning’ advising people to postpone nonessential
travel to Mexico, it has not called for restricting flights.
Likewise, the World Health Organization recommended not to close
borders and not to restrict international travel. ATA and the
airlines will continue our close coordination with various
governmental agencies and will respond as developments
occur.”
ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90
percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.
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