- Airline industry groups have urged the CDC to reconsider new Ebola screening rules.
- The rules require US-bound travellers to declare no DRC travel in the prior 21 days.
- The mandate takes effect at 11.59pm EST on 3 November 2026.
- IATA and Airlines for America cite an unreasonable implementation timeline.
- Groups are seeking exemptions for flight crew and military personnel.
The International Air Transport Association and Airlines for America have urged the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reconsider new rules requiring all US-bound travellers including passengers and crew to attest they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the prior 21 days. The mandate scheduled to take effect on 3 November 2026 imposes an implementation timeline of less than two weeks. The new rule responds to an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the DRC.
Airlines for America which represents major carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines noted that modifying check-in systems, integrating digital signatures, altering station procedures and training staff cannot be completed in the allotted time. The mandate impacts more than 10m monthly air travellers to the US while data from 2025 shows that out of 130m air passengers screened by US Customs and Border Protection fewer than 25,000 had any connection to the DRC.IATA questioned why the global mandate applies strictly to aviation pointing out that maritime and surface transport are excluded.
Industry groups are pressing for targeted relief before the deadline specifically asking the CDC to exempt flight crew members, US military personnel and jumpseat travellers. The CDC has previously implemented stricter measures including temporary entry bans on foreign nationals who have recently visited the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan
