An international coalition of travel-related organisations have called on the US government to stop requiring vaccinated passengers to present a negative Covid test before boarding US-bound flights, AFP reports.

“Clearly Covid is widespread throughout the US and attempts to control its importation via air travel under today's circumstances are unlikely to change that fact,” the group argued in a letter addressed to White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeffrey Zients.

“Surveys of air passengers indicate that pre-departure testing is a leading factor in the decision not to travel internationally,” they noted, adding that people do not want to risk getting stuck abroad if they test positive.

The group added that if a new threatening variant appeared, “pre-departure testing could be easily reinstituted.”