ATW Daily News
Biden says pig flu flies; airlines, DOT say no
Biden says pig flu flies; airlines, DOT say no
Friday May 1, 2009 The airline industry and President Barack Obama's administration scrambled yesterday to allay public fears raised by Vice President Joe Biden's comments about a link between swine flu and commercial air travel on NBC's Today show.
Speaking on the popular early morning news and talk program, Biden said, "I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's [that] you're in a confined aircraft; when one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft. . .If you're out in the middle of a field and someone sneezes that's one thing. If you're in a closed aircraft. . .it's a different thing."
Biden's remarks, which came after the World Health Organization elevated the risk of a worldwide swine flu pandemic, quickly were denounced by the US Air Transport Assn., which released a letter from President and CEO James May to the vice president expressing "extreme disappointment at your suggestion that people should avoid air travel. . .You should be aware that the airlines have been working daily with the cadre of government agencies responding to the outbreak and that we are taking all appropriate actions. . .While individuals who are feeling ill should remain home, no responsible officials or healthcare professionals have suggested that people avoid air travel."
Later in the day, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood began a speech to nearly 700 aviation professionals and government officials in Washington (see story below) by reassuring them that "flying is safe and flying is healthy and flying to Mexico is safe" and that "in our department, we're going to listen to the experts" regarding swine flu.
Also angling to cool off a firestorm of criticism, Biden's office claimed in a statement following the interview that he simply was reiterating the administration's advice to "avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico" and for those feeling ill to avoid "airplanes and other confined public spaces . . . This is the advice the vice president has given family members who are traveling by commercial airline this week."
WHO said it "is not recommending any travel restrictions to contain an outbreak of swine flu," while Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Director Richard Besser said, "I think flying is safe, going on the subway is safe. People should go out and live their lives," according to statements distributed by ATA.
by ATWOnline Staff
ATW Daily New
Other News
Thursday April 30, 2009
Government health organizations yesterday used stronger language to caution against travel to Mexico, with US Centers for Disease Control Acting Director Richard Besser saying that "people should avoid nonessential travel to Mexico as a precaution to guard against contracting the swine flu." The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control urged Europeans not to travel to Mexico unless their trips were "unavoidable and absolutely necessary." The UK government said it advises against "all but essential travel." There still were no reports of passengers canceling trips to Mexico on a widescale basis, though numerous airlines around the world are allowing for alterations on Mexico-bound tickets without normal change fees. A number of carriers did report that flights out of Mexico City were unusually full as travelers attempted to depart the nation where the swine flu outbreak originated and is believed to be responsible for some 150 deaths.
