U.S. airlines are calling on the Biden administration to end pre-departure COVID-19 testing rules for international air passengers, as new figures reveal they significantly impact the likelihood of travelers from key European and Asian markets to visit the United States.
The 16-month-old rule—which has already been dumped by Britain, Germany, Canada, and many other countries for vaccinated travelers—requires nearly all international air passengers with some exceptions to test negative for COVID-19 before entering the country.
But this rule makes around 57 percent of international travelers surveyed less likely to travel to the United States due to the risks associated with pre-departure testing, according to a survey by Morning Consult for the U.S. Travel Association (pdf). This includes 16 percent who said it makes them much less likely to do so.
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