American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby testify throughout a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation oversight listening to on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., December 15, 2021.
Chip Somodevilla | Pool | Reuters
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly examined optimistic for Covid-19 after a Senate listening to with different airline chiefs earlier this week, the airline stated Friday.
Kelly, together with the CEOs of United Airlines and American Airlines, Delta Air Lines’ chief of operations, and the president of the nation’s largest flight attendant union, testified in particular person for greater than three hours on the Senate Commerce Committee listening to Wednesday afternoon about $54 billion in federal payroll assist airways took to climate the pandemic. Witnesses and lawmakers did not put on masks in the course of the listening to. Most of the opposite attendees wore face masks.
“Although testing adverse a number of instances previous to the Senate Commerce Committee listening to, Gary examined optimistic for COVID-19 after returning dwelling, experiencing gentle signs, and taking a PCR take a look at,” a Southwest spokeswoman stated in an announcement. “Gary is doing properly and presently resting at dwelling, he has been totally vaccinated and acquired the booster earlier this yr. Gary’s signs proceed to be gentle, and every day he’s transferring nearer to a full restoration.”
United’s CEO Scott Kirby, who sat to Kelly’s left within the listening to, examined adverse for Covid as of Friday, in keeping with an individual conversant in the matter. American’s CEO Doug Parker examined adverse on Friday, a spokeswoman stated.
Delta’s chief of operations, John Laughter, who testified within the listening to on Wednesday and sat two seats away from Kelly, examined adverse Thursday and Friday.
“He will proceed to check and take different precautions as essential,” the airline stated in an announcement.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, sat to Laughter’s left.
“I used to be suggested by Gary Kelly shortly after he examined optimistic and, satirically, simply as I used to be returning to work after getting the booster shot,” she stated in an announcement. “I’m following CDC protocols and can take a look at a number of instances inside the 5-7 day really helpful interval, and earlier than touring with my household for the vacations.”
Senators questioned witnesses on current flight disruptions, airways’ hiring hassle, 5G, in addition to vaccine and masks mandates.
During the listening to, when Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) requested airline CEOs whether or not they foresee passengers not having to put on masks on board, Kelly touted the effectiveness of on-board air filtration and circulation techniques and stated: “I feel the case could be very sturdy that masks do not add a lot if something within the air cabin surroundings.”
The Biden administration has required that bus passengers put on face masks since February, although airways started requiring them within the spring of 2020 because the pandemic started. Earlier this month, the Biden administration prolonged the mandate by means of March 18.
On Friday, Kelly softened his tone and stated he supported the federal mandate.
During the listening to “I confused some with a brief reply to a query about masks,” he wrote in a employees word through which he additionally disclosed his optimistic Covid outcome. “So, to be clear, I and Southwest and together with [U.S. airline lobbying group] Airlines for America are all aligned and assist the present federal masks mandate at airports and on airplanes.
“The majority of our Employees and Customers have felt it has been an necessary layer of safety, and I actually agree with that,” he continued. “So we’ll proceed to depend on the recommendation of our medical consultants concerning the need of masks. And my apologies for any confusion!”
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, Delta Air Lines Executive Vice President John Laughter and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President Sara Nelson testify earlier than the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee within the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, in Washington, December 15, 2021.
Chip Somodevilla | Pool | Reuters
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, instantly after Kelly’s response within the listening to, stated “I concur” however the firm on Thursday issued an announcement saying he meant to concur with “feedback made by different witnesses in regards to the top quality of plane cabin air, and didn’t intend to solid doubt on the need of face masks on planes.”
Parker later revealed an extended assertion on his Instagram account saying that the airline helps the masks mandate and that he “ought to have been clearer in my response to 1 query that has led to a misrepresentation of American’s place on the masks mandate.”
Air journey has been one of many industries hardest hit by the pandemic. Demand has since recovered, largely due to home leisure journeys. Executives from Delta and United this week stated they’re gearing up busy year-end vacation season, regardless of the unfold of the omicron variant.