Call for domestic flight vaccine mandate knocked back

Mandating vaccines for domestic flights won’t fly, says the Transportation Secretary.

In a TV interview, Pete Buttigieg said a mandate is not necessary, despite growing calls from Democrats.

Other measures like requiring masks on flights and vaccinating aviation workers are ‘highly effective.’

"Between the masking and the other mitigations, we’re very confident in the safety of air travel and travel generally in this country," he said.

The US reopened to foreign travelers this month, but only if they are fully vaccinated and test negative.

That is ‘because different countries have different standards’ Buttigieg claims.

Lawmakers called for a vaccine mandate for domestic air travel.

"Applying similar strategies to domestic air travel would ensure Americans can travel safely to see their loved ones during the holidays while also limiting household introduction and spread of covid-19 from visiting family and friends," a letter signed by 36 Democrats addressed to the President said.