United Airlines will roll out a voluntary contact tracing program across its entire network.
During check-in passengers will be asked to voluntarily provide contact information which will give the CDC ‘immediate access’ to speed up tracing of people potentially exposed to Covid-19.
The airline is asking for passengers’ email addresses, phone numbers and addresses at their destination.
Customers can supply the information at airport check-in or online if the check-in via the app.
The airline will start taking details from inbound international passengers on flights this week.
It will then be expanded to all flights in its network during the next few weeks, the airline said.
"Collection of contact information from air travelers will greatly improve the timeliness and completeness of information for Covid-19 public health follow-up and contact tracing," said CDC director Robert Redfield.
Delta Air Lines announced a similar voluntary program for inbound international flights but United will be the first to collate contract tracing data for all flights in its network.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
