Washington News Bureau

Airlines push back against CDC guidance advising people to continue limiting travel

WASHINGTON — Airlines are pushing back against updated CDC guidance that says people should continue limiting travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At this time, the CDC is not adjusting current guidance on travel. Everyone whether vaccinated or not should avoid medium or large sized gatherings as well as non-essential travel,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

Airlines for America said safety precautions on planes include heavily filtered air, extra cleaning and mask-wearing, and that those precautions significantly lower the risk of infection.

The CDC said the guidance will be updated and expanded. Analysts believe that as more people get vaccinated, the more comfortable they’ll be with flying. 1.3 million people passed through airport security checkpoints on Sunday, according to new TSA numbers. That’s the highest number since Jan. 3.