Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have introduced legislation that would require the establishment of a task force responsible for developing plans, guidelines and recommend requirements to address the logistical, health, safety, and security issues arising from continued air travel during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the resumption of full operations at airports and increased passenger air travel after the current emergency ends.
The legislation, dubbed the Restoring Safety in the Skies Act of 2020, would require the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Transportation to establish a joint task force, a move that would “tackle head-on the unprecedented aviation challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to Blumenthal.
“The coronavirus has had an enormous impact on every person and industry in the United States, but air travel has been uniquely affected by the current pandemic,” said Markey. “That’s why experts across all of the relevant agencies and groups must come together to address the immediate challenges to safety in our skies, as well as start planning for the ‘new normal’ after the coronavirus subsides. My legislation will task airports, airlines, aviation workers, public health experts, and many others to develop comprehensive plans for protecting the safety and security of the flying public. We must be smart and think big as we tackle these unprecedented challenges.”
The Restoring Safety in the Skies Act would specifically convene representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, airport operators, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, labor unions representing aviation workers, public health experts, consumer and passenger rights organizations, privacy and civil liberty organizations, and the manufacturers of passenger screening technologies.
As soon as practicable, this task force would be required to provide emergency plans, guidelines, and recommend requirements necessary to ensure safe air travel before the COVID-19 pandemic ends and during the immediate period after the disease subsides. Within six months, the task force would be required to submit a final report detailing all of its recommendations for safe and secure air travel in light of the longer-term and permanent effects of the coronavirus.
“We appreciate the efforts by Senator Markey to create a task force with industry guidelines and recommendations for air travel,” said Lisa Wieland, CEO, Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). “All airports will need to adjust operations to protect the health of passengers and airport employees. Consistency among U.S. airports will be essential to rebuild the public’s confidence. We look forward to working with the task force on these important issues.”
Kevin M. Burke, president and CEO, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), said he welcomed the task force and its goal of preparing “meaningful guidelines and recommendations about the challenging operational and infrastructure issues related to pandemic planning and recovering from COVID-19.”
