The US lifted pre-departure COVID-19 testing mandates for international arrivals from June 12, ending a pandemic-era policy that many analysts have blamed for slowing the return of international travel.
The pre-departure testing mandate initially entered effect in January 2021, and was widely viewed as a way to enable safe international travel while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in flight. But the policy became increasingly unpopular among airlines and the US travel industry, both of which have lobbied for months to repeal it.
Airlines for America (A4A) CEO Nicholas Calio welcomed the decision to eliminate the testing requirement, which he said will “encourage and restore travel to the United States, benefiting communities across the country that rely heavily on travel and tourism to support their local economies.”