The US government drags its feet in implementing temperature checks as despite airline calls varied science on its effectiveness continues to question its value

Airlines worldwide are touting the safety measures they've put into place to ease passenger concerns about air travel, and US operators have been pushing for the country's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to commence temperature screenings, arguing that is one way to make passengers feel more comfortable. But there's been little movement on the request, and US airlines may be left to their own devices as their work continues to lure leisure, and eventually business travellers back on aircraft.

Back in May-2020 The US trade group Airlines For America has stated it supports the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to begin temperature screenings of travellers and customer facing employees as long as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic. In Jun-2020, the association's member airlines have also pledged refund tickets for passenger that is found to have an elevated temperature during a screening process.

But the US government and the TSA have yet to pledge to start temperature screening, and USA Today has quoted TSA Administrator David Pekoske raising two concerns with temperature screenings- their effectiveness and how to handle passengers that have a fever.

Alaska Air Group, which is a member of the association and an advocate for temperature screenings, has done a proof of concept at its headquarters and largest hub at Seattle Tacoma International airport. The airline's vice president of external relations Diana Rakow recently told analysts and investors that there is some varied science on whether the technology "does sufficiently screen people, whether there's enough people out there caught with temperatures high enough to actually screen them out".

Ms Rakow highlighted the ongoing debate about whether temperature screenings are worth putting in place across all airports, "but we are continuing to ask for it. It's another layer of safety…and it could increase guest confidence".

"We're going to continue advocating for it [temperature checks]," said Alaska CEO Brad Tilden, who stated the process will "likely not go as fast as we would like, but we're going to continue pushing on it, because I think it is just part of the confidence of society and people flying".

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly recently declared that he is a huge advocate for temperature screenings, noting it was one more layer of defence in spreading the virus. The airline is conducting its own testing programme for temperature checks at Dallas Love Field "for the sole purpose of trying to demonstrate to the TSA the efficacy of the process…".

Delta Air Lines is also trialling temperature checks at Los Angeles International airport. Previously, the company's CEO Ed Bastian has explained the company is making a significant effort to foster confidence amongst corporate clients that air travel is safe. "…what we've been doing its taking them out with us on tours and seeing the airport. It is interesting for travellers that have spent their life as road warriors, the first time back in this environment, it feels different," Mr Bastian concluded.

Given the government's foot dragging on temperature checks, airlines may need to start widespread adoption of the testing as an investment to keep passengers calm and secure until a vaccine for Covid 19 is available. Interestingly, one US airline is already conducting system wide temperature checks, US ULCC Frontier Airlines.