Donald Trump’s return to the White House will likely impact on US travel policy, including visas, travel bans for those from certain countries, winding back green subsidies such as sustainable aviation fuel, but also easing pressure around deal-making for airlines.
Under Joe Biden, the US State Department reduced visa wait times and eased the travel processes, including backfilling consular positions and using interview waivers to clear backlogs, according to the Skift report.
But Trump also introduced more restrictive visa policies and increased screening and additional scrutiny on travellers from certain regions.
In 2017, the Trump administration restricted entry for citizens from about two dozen countries which he may well reintroduce.
In the last days of his previous administration, Trump also issued a temporary rule that could require tourist and business travellers from two dozen countries – most in Africa – to pay a bond of as much as $15,000 to visit the US. It targeted countries whose nationals have higher rates of overstaying B-2 visas for tourists and B-1 visas for business travellers.
With a target of 90 million annual visitors by 2026, any decision Trump makes will have a significant impact on numbers and also impact airlines, hotels and those businesses dependent on international tourists.
But Trump’s less interventionist policies could also ease pressure around airline deal-making with a Department of Justice’s inquiry into competition into air travel now under question.
Biden’s administration also levied hefty fines and imposed strict rules for airlines, compelling them to provide automatic refunds and adhere to enhanced accessibility requirements, the Skift report said.
As for sustainability, Trump is also expected to rollback incentives, including those for sustainable aviation fuel, potentially reducing compliance costs but also slowing momentum toward sustainable practices, the report said.
