Passenger traffic could suffer losses because of swine flu concerns, said Air Transport Association spokesman David Castelveter, but there’s no data now to show any dent in traffic.
“It’s too early yet,” he said.
ATA estimates there are 4,000 passengers who fly between the United States and Mexico per week, mostly leisure travelers.
The airline industry has prevailed before in such situations, Castelveter said, including SARS and anthrax scares. But airlines are a bit more concerned this time, he said, because of the timing of this threat.
“We’re just trying to make our way back after last year’s oil prices,” he said. “We can ill afford to be losing passengers in this type of world condition.”
Responding to the swine flu outbreak, airlines serving the U.S.-Mexico market are allowing passengers to change reservations to a later date without being penalized, said Castelveter.
Airlines are in a “passive surveillance” mode regarding passengers on Mexico flights, said Castelveter. Airline personnel are observing passengers for any signs of symptoms of the flu or similar communicable diseases. But the carriers are not specifically screening passengers to deny them the right to board any aircraft, Castelveter said.
If employees notice any passengers with flu-like symptoms, they are notifying the proper authorities, he said.
“We’re working with the carriers to show the need for heightened awareness,” Castelveter said.
IATA is asking airlines to make sure its emergency plans are in order should the situation worsen.
"At the present time, IATA recommends that airlines review their preparedness plans for public health emergency and consider how they may be implemented in the event that the current situation becomes more widespread,” IATA said. “No specific additional measures are currently advised. Recommendations will be reviewed in light of the World Health Organization’s evaluation of the evolving situation."
Officials in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Asian locations said they would quarantine feverish travelers returning from Mexico, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Tokyo's Narita International Airport began using a device to test passengers returning from Mexico for elevated temperatures.
