The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), representing nearly 50,000 cabin crew members across 20 U.S. airlines, has called on airlines to introduce passenger screening measures related to hantavirus concerns before boarding flights.
In a formal proposal issued on May 9, 2026, the union requested that airlines warn passengers not to travel if they had contact with rodents or symptomatic individuals within the previous 45 days. The proposal also suggested allowing affected travelers to rebook without penalties and recommended that airline staff ask all passengers screening questions during check-in. According to the union, passengers who respond positively should not be permitted to board.
The AFA-CWA additionally asked airlines to make surgical or N95 masks available onboard for passengers or crew members who become symptomatic during flights. The request comes amid growing public attention surrounding hantavirus cases reported in parts of the western United States in recent weeks.
However, health experts note that hantavirus is primarily spread through exposure to infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva rather than person-to-person respiratory transmission. No aviation-specific screening guidance has been issued by U.S. health authorities, and airlines have not publicly announced plans to adopt the proposed measures. Industry analysts have also questioned the practicality of implementing such broad screening rules across millions of daily air travelers.