Southwest Airlines CEO, Gary Kelly tested positive for COVID19 after a Senate hearing with other airline executives. Kelly together with other airline executives testified at the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday. The hearing discussed a variety of industry-related issues including vaccine mandate, 5G, and staffing shortages. However, the biggest question asked by lawmakers was how the $54 billion in federal payroll support was used.
Senate Commerce Committee Hearing
The Southwest CEO along with the other airline executives didn’t wear masks during the 3-hour meeting. A Southwest spokesperson said that “Although testing negative multiple times prior to the Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, Gary tested positive for COVID-19 after returning home, experiencing mild symptoms, and taking a PCR test”. The spokesperson added that the Southwest CEO is currently resting at home and doing well. Kelly completed his vaccine doses and a booster shot.
United CEO Scott Kirby who was seating in Kelly’s left during the hearing, tested negative. American CEO Doug Parker, on the other hand, “is symptom-free”. Also, American Airlines announced that Parker will be taking a COVID19 test.
Delta’s chief of operations John Laughter tested negative on Thursday and Friday. He was two seats away from the Southwest CEO during the hearing. The airline said, “He will continue to test and take other precautions as necessary”.
Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants, sat to Laughter’s left. She said that “I was advised by Gary Kelly shortly after he tested positive”. She added that “I am following CDC protocols and will test several times within the 5-7 days recommended period, and before traveling with my family for the holidays”.
Southwest CEO Clarified His Comment on Masks
During the hearing, Senator Roger Wicker asked the airline executives whether they expect the masking requirement to go away. Kelly commented on the effectiveness of their aircraft’s filtration systems. He said that “I think the case is very strong that masks don’t add much if anything in the air cabin environment”.
The Biden administration announced the extension of the mask mandate until March 2022. On Friday, Kelly clarified his comment during the hearing. The Southwest CEO said that “I confused some with a short answer to a question about masks”. He said that “So, to be clear, I and Southwest and along with (US airline lobbying group) Airlines for America are all aligned and support the current federal mask mandate at airports and on airplanes”.
