Traveler Education: Guide
Face Covering Policies and Plans
Face Masks
Airports and airlines encouraged people to properly wear a mask that covered both their nose and mouth. Most airports had the opportunity to obtain masks through federal funding to provide to airport employees and tenants, as well as passengers. Wearing a mask or face covering is necessary in high-risk areas with limited spacing where social distancing cannot be maintained. Face coverings can be temporarily removed as part of the airlines’ check-in processes, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screening, or other instances where identification was required. Individuals were allowed to temporarily remove masks to eat, drink, take medication, or engage in personal hygiene activities with the proper social distancing of six feet or more.
Traveler Screening Policies
International Passenger Screening
There are no major screening requirements as of November 2025. The CDC has the authority to conduct non-invasive health screening at U.S. ports of entry, which may include collecting contact information, travel history, and health data during active public health emergecnies. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, temperature screening, questionnaires, and actual testing were used to screen international passengers upon entry to the United States. Some airports partnered with local emergency medical services (EMS) to screen international travelers. Some airlines implemented a COVID-19 testing program for passengers flying to and from certain international destinations. This program required passengers to be tested by a private company before boarding and only passengers who tested negative would be allowed to board the flight. In line with best practices, passengers who tested positive would undergo additional testing for either clearance or denial of boarding.
Vaccination Requirement Policies
Vaccination
Airlines currently focus on encouraging, but not requiring, vaccintions among employees. However, during outbreaks, airlines provided incentives for employees to be vaccinted.
Banner image credit: Unsplash
