HOUSTON, April 27 (UPI) -- Major U.S. airlines, responding to Mexico's swine flu outbreak, say they are waiving fees for travelers wanting to reroute or reschedule flights to the country.
Continental Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways all said they would allow passengers to change their flights without penalty if they are flying to Mexico, CNN reported. The time window for changing flights fee-free depends on the airline.
One-hundred-three deaths had been blamed on the outbreak in Mexico with 1,300 suspected cases, published reports said. In the United States, health officials said Sunday 20 cases -- all mild, with one hospitalization, had been reported.
The U.S. Air Transport Association is in regular contact with the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta regarding the outbreak, Katherine Andrus, an attorney for the airline trade association, said.
Airlines and their crews have their own procedures for watching for and handling sick passengers, Andrus said. If someone on board a flight has a communicable disease, the matter is reported to the CDC, she said.
"This is a time for appropriate precautions but not panic," she said.
