Enforcement Notice Regarding Air Travel Restrictions for Ebola Outbreak

DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) issued an Enforcement Notice to align its policies with CDC and DHS directives regarding the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. While 14 CFR part 382 normally requires airlines to accept medical certificates showing alternative infection control measures, OACP confirmed it will not penalize airlines for rejecting medical certificates, acknowledging that no feasible cabin measures exist to safely prevent Ebola transmission. However, airlines must still honor passenger protections by providing rebooking, prompt refunds, or five-year transferable travel vouchers to affected travelers.