- May 2009
- Current Events
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- Government/Legislation
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Current Events
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Passenger screening conducted in response to H1N1 virus
As previously reported, in response to travel-related concerns for the H1N1 virus, various countries have been screening passengers arriving from affected countries, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These screenings are taking place at points of entry for land, air, and sea. Regarding these same countries, current process is:
- The United States is not conducting enhanced entry screening of passengers arriving from Mexico, nor is the United States conducting exit screening for passengers leaving Mexico.
- In Canada, all arriving travelers may be subject to routine screening with quarantine offices stationed at all airports taking direct flights from Mexico.
- In Mexico, screening is being conducted at airports and land borders for any passengers departing Mexico. Passengers with virus symptoms will be asked to have a voluntary physical examination for further evaluation.
CWT clients are encouraged to inform their travelers that these screenings are continuing for the time being and that processes vary by country. Screening techniques include:
- Thermal scans to detect any fever
- Health declaration card completion for official documentation
- Disinfectant foot mats for travelers to wipe their shoes
- On-board screening done by flight crews and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quarantine officials in some impacted areas globally
At this time, any passenger believed to be ill or displaying symptoms such as high fever, coughing, nausea, and/or diarrhea, impaired breathing, or a skin rash may be subject to quarantine for up to seven days in certain countries. Medical attention is generally provided at a cost to the traveler, according to the CDC.
Because screening specifics are continually evolving, CWT travelers are encouraged to monitor updates from their airlines and/or local authorities in their departure and arrival destinations to determine potential travel delays.
As of publication time, the CDC was continuing to recommend that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. The World Health Organization (WHO) has not imposed or recommended travel restrictions related to the virus. According to the WHO, imposing restrictions of this nature will do little to stop the spread of this specific virus. “International travel moves rapidly, with large numbers of individuals visiting various parts of the world. Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community,” the WHO said in a prepared statement.
Recommending “continued precaution” for travelers, the CDC has provided detailed advice around pre-trip, during travel, and post-trip behavior to reduce individual risk of contamination. See: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluUS.aspx.
As always, CWT emphasizes travelers should consult with their organization’s corporate policy to align with specific safety and security instructions prior to booking any travel. CWT’s Crisis Management team continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as appropriate. In addition, frequent updates are readily available directly from the CDC.
Sources: CWT, cdc.gov, who.int
Secure Flight program proceeds toward implementation
As previously reported in CWT Traveler, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Secure Flight program is scheduled for implementation throughout 2009 and 2010. The information below outlines key details and dates associated with the program.
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Overview
- Secure Flight transfers the responsibility for pre-departure watch list matching from airlines to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- Program will request that travelers provide full name, date of birth, gender and redress number (if applicable) when booking airline flights—in an effort to reduce false matches to watch list names
- Data will be transmitted from the airlines to the TSA 72 hours in advance of travel, or at the time of booking for flights booked less than 72 hours in advance
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Key dates
- May 15, 2009—Secure Flight requests that travelers begin using their full name (as it appears on the government-issued identification they plan to use at the airport), when making airline reservations*
- August 15, 2009—Passengers will be requested to provide date of birth, gender and redress number (if applicable) when booking airline flights (for flights that operate within the United States)
- October 31, 2009—Passengers will be requested to provide date of birth, gender and redress number (if applicable) when booking airline flights (for flights into, out of, and over the United States)
- Early 2010—The TSA plans to conduct watch list matching for 100 percent of passengers on all domestic commercial flights
- End of 2010—The TSA plans to conduct watch list matching for 100 percent of passengers on all international commercial flights
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CWT’s role
- Coordinate all profile systems, booking tools and travel counselor processes to prepare for the collection and transmission of Secure Flight data
- Request, collect, and transmit the Secure Flight data elements to the airlines as a part of each reservation made with CWT (regardless of booking method) in advance of TSA deadlines – for the airlines’ transmission to the TSA
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Potential traveler impact
- Travelers who elect not to provide the Secure Flight data in their reservation may be denied online check-in, requested to provide the data at the airport, and/or subject to additional screening and potential delays Additional information, including details of the program and its associated Privacy Program, can be found on the TSA Web Site.
* The TSA has stated that small differences between the passenger’s ID and the name on their reservation (such as including no middle name, only a middle initial or full middle name) will not be an issue for passengers in the near future. TSA recommends that over time, passengers should aim for consistency between the name on their government-issued ID and their travel information.
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Sources: tsa.gov, CWT
787 Dreamliner readied for first flight
Boeing expects the 787 Dreamliner to make its first flight by July 1, which is about two years behind the original schedule. In a May 3 news release, Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program said, “We are making great progress and moving ever-closer to first flight.”
Boeing reports that over recent weeks the 787 has “completed a rigorous series of tests including build verification tests, structures and systems integration tests, landing gear swings and factory gauntlet, which is the full simulation of the first flight using the actual airplane… the simulation also included manual and automatic landings and an extensive suite of subsequent ground tests.”
Boeing has 846 orders for the plane that promises fuel efficiency and cost savings over the wide-body jets it will replace.
Sources: usatoday.com, boeing.com
