Major US and international airline associations have called on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reconsider new Ebola-related travel requirements, warning that the measures would impose significant costs and operational difficulties on airlines worldwide.
The regulations, scheduled to take effect on November 3, require all international air passengers and crew members travelling to the United States to sign a declaration confirming they have not visited the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the previous 21 days.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airlines for America raised objections in separate letters to the CDC, arguing that airlines had been given insufficient time to implement the requirements.
IATA, which represents more than 370 airlines across over 130 countries, said requiring carriers to introduce new verification procedures for every US-bound passenger and crew member in less than two weeks was unreasonable.
Airlines for America, representing major carriers including United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, described the measures as impractical and excessively burdensome.
The association warned that airlines would have to modify check-in systems, introduce digital declaration procedures and train employees, potentially costing the industry millions of dollars.
It also questioned whether the sweeping restrictions were proportionate to the risk.
According to the association, US Customs and Border Protection screened approximately 130 million international air passengers in 2025, fewer than 25,000 of whom had travelled through or from the DRC.
The airline groups also urged the CDC to consider exemptions for flight crews, US military personnel and airline employees travelling for operational purposes.
IATA questioned why the restrictions applied exclusively to aviation, while travellers entering the United States by land or sea were not subject to equivalent requirements.
The CDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ebola outbreak raises international concern
The measures come amid a major Ebola outbreak centred in the DRC, where the Bundibugyo strain has spread across several provinces since the outbreak was declared in May.
US authorities previously introduced restrictions preventing foreign nationals who had recently visited the DRC from entering the country. Those restrictions were subsequently extended to American citizens.
Additional measures also restrict entry by certain foreign nationals who have recently travelled to Uganda or South Sudan.
The latest CDC order, amended on October 28, explicitly covers passengers and crew members aboard both passenger and cargo aircraft. CDC+1
The outbreak has continued to spread despite international containment efforts, with infections also reported outside the DRC.
According to the latest CDC figures, released on October 26, the outbreak has resulted in 10,172 confirmed infections and 4,932 deaths, including 4,928 deaths in the DRC. CDC
The Bundibugyo strain has a high fatality rate, with health authorities warning that delayed detection and limited access to medical care are contributing to the death toll.
Airline associations have urged US health authorities to adopt a more targeted approach that would maintain safeguards against Ebola while reducing disruption to international aviation.
